State, Politics and Development MCQ Quiz in தமிழ் - Objective Question with Answer for State, Politics and Development - இலவச PDF ஐப் பதிவிறக்கவும்

The correct answer is - 'A - II, B - I, C - III, D - IV'.

Key Points

• The Republic - Plato (A-II)
  • The Republic is a Socratic dialogue authored by Plato around 375 BC concerning justice, the order and character of the just city-state, and the just man.
  • It is one of the most influential works in Western philosophy and political theory.
• On Liberty - John Stuart Mill (B-I)
  • On Liberty is a philosophical work by John Stuart Mill, originally intended as a short essay. The work applies Mill’s ethical system of utilitarianism to society and the state.
  • Mill explores the nature and limits of the power that society can legitimately exercise over the individual.
• The Structure of Scientific Revolutions - Thomas Kuhn (C-III)
  • The Structure of Scientific Revolutions is a book about the history of science by philosopher Thomas Kuhn.
  • It introduced the term "paradigm shift" and discussed how scientific progress is not a linear accumulation of knowledge but rather a series of revolutionary changes.
• The Social Contract - Jean-Jacques Rousseau (D-IV)
  • The Social Contract, originally published as Du contrat social in 1762, is a book in which Rousseau expounds his theory on the best way to establish a political community in the face of the problems of commercial society, which he had already identified in his Discourse on Inequality (1755).
  • Rousseau argues that the general will is the source of legitimate authority and that laws are binding only when they are supported by the general will of the people.

Additional Information

• Influence of These Works
  • The Republic by Plato has laid foundational concepts for Western philosophy and governance, including the notion of ideal states and the philosopher-king.
  • On Liberty by John Stuart Mill has shaped modern liberal thought and delineated the rights of individuals against the authority of the state.
  • The Structure of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas Kuhn has influenced our understanding of scientific progress and the dynamics of scientific change.
  • The Social Contract by Jean-Jacques Rousseau has been crucial in political theory, influencing modern democratic governments and revolutions, notably the French Revolution.

The correct answer is Social Justice. 

Important Points

• According to B. R. Ambedkar, social justice is a means to create an ideal or a just society.
• He advocated a social system based on equalization in society among individuals in all spheres of life: economic, legal, political, etc.
• The key components of Ambedkar’s concept of social justice are liberty, equality and fraternity.
• He argued that these three are essential conditions for the existence of social justice and absence of any one of these would render the others meaningless. Thus, the trinity is the bedrock of formation of social justice. 
• Ambedkar’s ideal society is based upon two fundamental principles:

1. The first is that the individual is an end in himself; and
2. The aim and object of society is the growth of the individual and development of his personality. 

Therefore, in Ambedkar's view Social justice brings equal distribution of social, political and economic resources and rights to all individuals. So, the correct answer is Social Justice. 

The correct answer is - None of the above.
Important Points

• Corruption is a form of dishonesty or a criminal offense which is undertaken by a person or an organization which is entrusted in a position of authority, in order to acquire illicit benefits or abuse power for one's personal gain.
• Corruption may involve many activities which include bribery, influence peddling and the embezzlement.

Additional Information 

• A state of unrestrained political corruption is known as a kleptocracy, literally meaning rule by thieves.
• Kleptocracy is a government whose corrupt leaders (kleptocrats) use political power to expropriate the wealth of the people and land they govern, typically by embezzling or misappropriating government funds at the expense of the wider population.
• Thievocracy means literally the rule by thievery and is a term used synonymously to kleptocracy.

The correct answer is - Richard D. Lambert.

Key Points

• Lambert recognized the significant influence pressure groups have on policy-making, without seeking formal election or government office.
• "Unofficial Government" Concept: He famously described these groups as an "unofficial government" to highlight their role in shaping public policy and administrative outcomes.
• Pressure groups operate through lobbying, public campaigns, and direct engagement with policymakers, representing the interests of their members or causes.
• Lambert's perspective suggests that these groups play a vital, albeit informal, role in governance, reflecting the diverse and competing interests within democratic societies.
• By acting as intermediaries, pressure groups amplify the voices of the citizenry or specific interest blocs within the policy-making process

Additional InformationMax Weber

• Bureaucracy Theory: Weber is best known for his theory on bureaucracy, viewing it as the most efficient and rational way in which human activity can be organized, especially within governments and large organizations.
• Authority Types: Identified three types of authority - traditional, charismatic, and legal-rational, with the latter underpinning the functioning of modern bureaucracies.
• Power and Legitimacy: Emphasized the concept of legitimate power within societies, where authority is recognized and accepted by those subject to it.

• Dahl is renowned for his pluralist approach to democracy, emphasizing the role of competition among multiple groups in political decision-making and governance.
• Influence of Groups: He acknowledged the presence and significance of various interest groups and factions in influencing policy outcomes, aligning somewhat with the notion of pressure groups as influential bodies.
• Polyarchy: Introduced the concept of polyarchy, describing modern democratic governments characterized by the presence of multiple sources of influence and power centers.
• While Dahl recognized the importance of various groups in influencing policy, his focus was more on the formal democratic processes and the interplay of groups within.

• Structuration Theory: Giddens introduced structuration theory, which analyzes the relationship between individual actions and the social structures that influence such actions.
• Modernity and Society: Focuses on how modern societies are characterized by deep transformations affecting personal identity, institutions, and traditional relationships.
• Globalization and Risk: Explored themes of globalization, the impact of technology, and the nature of high-risk societies, including how these factors influence governance and social organization.
• Social Dynamics: While not directly engaging with the concept of pressure groups as "unofficial governments," Giddens’s work provides invaluable insights into the dynamics of power, agency, and structure within modern societies.

The correct answer is - The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill.

Key PointsThe widespread protests in India during 2020-2021 were primarily triggered by three agricultural laws, of which the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill is a part. 

• Three Farm Bills: Protests were sparked by three agricultural laws aimed at deregulating crop sales, encouraging private investment, and amending essential commodity regulations.
• Core Concerns: Farmers feared these reforms would undermine the Minimum Support Price (MSP) system and expose them to corporate exploitation.
• Primary Protestors: Major protests arose from farmers in Punjab, Haryana, and Western Uttar Pradesh, demanding a rollback of the laws.
• Government's Perspective: The Indian government argued the laws would empower farmers by offering more selling options and attracting private sector investments.
• Outcome: The protests marked one of the largest farmer movements in India, emphasizing the challenge of balancing agricultural modernization with farmers' security.

The correct answer is - All of the above.

Key PointsThe 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, was a significant legislative act that reformed the Panchayati Raj system (local government system) in India.

• It mandated the reservation of seats for women, Scheduled Castes (SCs), and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), aiming to ensure an inclusive representation.

Here are some key points regarding this mandate:

• Inclusive Representation: Mandates reservation for women, Scheduled Castes (SCs), and Scheduled Tribes (STs) to ensure diverse participation in local governance.
• Women’s Reservation: At least one-third of the seats in Panchayats are reserved for women, applicable across all tiers of the system.
• Proportional SC/ST Reservation: Seats for SCs and STs are reserved in proportion to their population in the area, ensuring equitable representation.
• Leader Positions: Reserves the offices of the Chairpersons at all levels for SCs, STs, and women, promoting leadership diversity.
• State’s Discretion: States can extend reservations beyond the minimum requirement, with some increasing women’s reservation to 50%.
• Empowerment and Justice: Aims to empower marginalized communities, ensuring their active participation and representation in local governance.

This amendment significantly contributes to making local governance more democratic, inclusive, and reflective of India's socio-cultural diversity.

The Correct Answer is Barrington Moore

Explanation: Barrington Moore's perspective on the relationship between strong states and the development of modern capitalism is elaborated in his seminal work, "Social Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy: Lord and Peasant in the Making of the Modern World," published in 1966. In this book, Moore explores the historical development of political and social structures in different societies, with a particular focus on Europe.

Key Points

• Moore's central argument revolves around the idea that the nature of a country's social structure, especially the relationship between landlords and peasants, influences the type of political regime that emerges. He identifies three main types of relationships between landlords and peasants: the "class struggle," the "compromise," and the "bourgeoisie."
• Class Struggle (Violent Path to Capitalism): In societies where there is a deep and antagonistic class struggle between landlords and peasants, the path to capitalism is often characterized by violent upheavals. According to Moore, strong states emerge in response to the need for social order and protection of property rights. These states play a crucial role in suppressing peasant uprisings and establishing the conditions for the development of capitalism.
• Compromise (Peaceful Path to Capitalism): In some societies, a compromise is reached between landlords and peasants, avoiding intense class struggle. This compromise can lead to a more gradual and peaceful transition to capitalism. In such cases, the state may not need to be as strong or authoritarian because social conflicts are less pronounced.
• Bourgeoisie (Capitalist Development without Agrarian Conflict): Moore also considers the case where capitalism develops without a significant agrarian conflict. In these situations, the bourgeoisie plays a more prominent role, and the state may not need to be as strong to maintain order.
• Moore uses historical examples from Europe, Asia, and other parts of the world to support his arguments. He pays special attention to the development of capitalism in England, France, and Russia. For example, he contrasts the English path to capitalism, which involved a relatively peaceful transition with a strong state protecting property rights, with the more violent and tumultuous paths in other regions.

 Additional Information

• Barrington Moore's thesis emphasizes the crucial role of the state in shaping the trajectory of capitalism.
• The strength and nature of the state, according to Moore, are deeply intertwined with the social relations and conflicts within a society, particularly those between landlords and peasants.
• His work provides a historical and comparative analysis to understand the diverse paths that societies have taken in the development of capitalism.

The correct answer is - Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)

Key Points

• Political sub-cultures
  • A political sub-culture refers to a subset of society with distinct beliefs, values, and attitudes toward political systems and processes.
  • These sub-cultures are rarely homogeneous because they are shaped by diverse factors such as ethnicity, religion, geography, and social class.
• Assertion (A)
  • The statement, "Political sub-cultures are rarely homogeneous," is true.
  • This is because various groups within a society often have differing political ideologies and priorities, making political sub-cultures diverse.
• Reason (R)
  • The statement, "There are significant differences among the politically conscious sections of society," is also true.
  • Politically conscious individuals differ in their understanding of political systems, their goals, and their level of engagement due to diverse social, economic, and cultural backgrounds.
• Relationship between (A) and (R)
  • (R) correctly explains (A) because the differences among politically conscious sections of society directly contribute to the lack of homogeneity in political sub-cultures.

Additional Information

• Factors influencing political sub-cultures
  • Geographical factors: Regional differences often lead to the formation of distinct political sub-cultures, such as urban vs. rural attitudes.
  • Social factors: Class, caste, and religious affiliations significantly shape political values and behaviors.
  • Economic factors: Wealth disparities influence political priorities, such as focus on welfare policies vs. market liberalization.
• Importance of understanding political sub-cultures
  • Helps in analyzing voting patterns, policy preferences, and political participation.
  • Enables governments and political parties to design inclusive policies and strategies that cater to diverse groups.
• Examples of political sub-cultures
  • Ethnic sub-cultures: Political movements based on ethnic identity, such as tribal politics in certain regions.
  • Religious sub-cultures: Groups advocating for policies based on religious ideologies.
  • Class-based sub-cultures: Working-class movements demanding labor rights or middle-class groups focusing on economic reforms.

Key Points 

• L.M. Singhvi Committee
  • ​​1986 under chairmanship of L.M. Singhvi.
    • Objectives
      • To review the Indian Constitution and recommend changes, amendments, or revisions deemed necessary to ensure its relevance, efficacy, and responsiveness to contemporary challenges and aspirations.
    • ​Recommendations
      • Giving constitutional recognition to PRIs.
      • More financial powers to panchayats.
      • Establishment of Judicial tribunals in each state which will have power to adjudicate matters relating to the elections and functioning of the PRIs.​

​​​Thus, Option (4) L.M. Singhvi is correct answer.

Additional Information

• Balwant Rai Mehta Committee
  • ​Established in 1957 under chairmanship of Balwant Rai Mehta.
  • Objectives​
    • To examine the functioning of local self-government institutions, particularly at the village level, and suggest measures for their strengthening and empowerment.
    • To promote democratic decentralization and enhance the role of local communities in decision-making and development processes.​​
  • ​​​​Recommendations
    • Proposed the establishment of a three-tier system of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) – at the village, block, and district levels.
    • Based on its recommendations, the Government of India enacted the Panchayati Raj Act in 1959, which provided a legal framework for the establishment and functioning of PRIs across the country.

• Ashok Mehta Committee
  • ​​Established in 1977 under the chairmanship of Ashok Mehta.
  • Objectives
    • ​To suggest measures to revive and strengthen the PRIs.
  • ​Recommendations
    • Establishment of two-tier system instead of three tier system. Two tier will have  Zila Parishad at the district level and the Mandal Panchayat for a group of villages.
    • Giving financial powers to these institutions in form of compulsory taxation powers.

• Swaminathan Committee
  • Establishment in 2004 under chairmanship of Dr. M.S. Swaminathan. Also known as "National Commission on Farmers".
  • Objectives
    • Examining the various aspects of agriculture in India, including agricultural policies, rural distress, farmer suicides, land reforms, and the welfare of farmers.
  • Recommendations
    • Implementation of comprehensive agricultural reforms, including land reforms and tenancy rights.
    • Investment in agricultural infrastructure, such as irrigation, rural roads, storage facilities, and market linkages.
    • Introduction of farmer-friendly policies, including minimum support prices (MSPs), crop insurance, and agricultural extension services.
    • Active engagement in promoting the cause of sustainable agriculture practices, conservation of natural resources, and biodiversity.
    • Strengthening of agricultural research and development, technology dissemination, and farmer education and training.
    • Creation of social safety nets and support mechanisms for vulnerable farming communities, including women and smallholder farmers.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The correct answer is British rule in India did not have the consent or participation of the Indian masses and rested entirely on coercive domination.

Explanation:

• Ranajit Guha argued that colonial rule in India exemplified 'dominance without hegemony' - there was no consent or voluntary participation of the masses.
• It relied solely on coercive power, surveillance and violence rather than persuasion or consent.
• The British could not negotiate cultural leadership over the Indian masses or incorporate them into colonial capitalism.
• It was domination without the dimension of hegemony exercised through coercion alone.
• This contrasted with the hegemony of the Indian elite classes who shared an exploitative relationship with the masses.

• In Guha's view, colonial rule was imposed and sustained by a foreign power which relied heavily on coercion - such as force, legal systems, and bureaucracy - rather than achieving legitimate consent from the masses. In other words, the British ruled, but they were not successful in achieving a level of cultural and societal acceptance that could be described as hegemony.
• Hegemony, as defined by Italian philosopher Antonio Gramsci, involves ruling through consent garnered by the spread and acceptance of ideologies; it suggests command in the social realm where dominance is achieved through culturally mediated and ideologically embedded ways on a societal level.
• According to Guha, British dominance in India did not meet this criterion, as the indigenous society of India, excluding a tiny fraction of Anglocentric elites, never fully accepted British cultural and ideological norms.
• The consequence was a complex colonial society full of tensions and contradictions - on one hand the coercive colonial state, and on the other hand the larger Indian society that did not fully acquiesce to the British way, leading to constant opposition and fragmentary uprisings against the British. Guha's work in "Elementary Aspects of Peasant Insurgency in Colonial India" is an exploration of this nature of colonial rule and popular struggle

So Guha highlighted the coercive nature of British rule that did not incorporate the subaltern groups, unlike option c. The other options do not accurately reflect Guha's specific argument about the lack of hegemony.