Chapter 10 – Challenges of Nation Building
Q1. What was the first major challenge after independence?
To unify over 500 princely states into the Indian Union while maintaining national integrity and democratic values under a single constitution.
Q2. What were the three challenges before independent India?
Nation-building, establishing democracy, and ensuring development and economic equality in a diverse, poor, and partitioned country.
Q3. What was the impact of Partition?
Mass migration, communal riots, property destruction, and human suffering; millions were displaced and killed during Hindu-Muslim-Sikh violence.
Q4. How did India handle the princely states issue?
Through diplomacy and pressure, Sardar Patel and V.P. Menon merged princely states into India using the Instrument of Accession.
Q5. What was the role of Sardar Patel?
As India’s first Home Minister, he united 562 princely states into the Indian Union and laid the foundation for administrative integration.
Q6. What is the Instrument of Accession?
A legal document signed by princely states to join either India or Pakistan, deciding their integration post-British rule.
Q7. Why was the Kashmir issue controversial?
Maharaja Hari Singh acceded to India under attack from Pakistani tribesmen, leading to wars, UN involvement, and ongoing disputes.
Q8. What was the Hyderabad issue?
Nizam wanted independence, but India launched ‘Operation Polo’ in 1948 and integrated Hyderabad forcibly after internal violence erupted.
Q9. What was the Junagadh issue?
Nawab acceded to Pakistan despite Hindu majority. India intervened and held a plebiscite, where people chose to join India.
Q10. Why is the integration of states significant?
It ensured India’s unity, administrative coherence, and peaceful democratic development, preventing fragmentation or civil war like in other post-colonial countries.
Q11. How was linguistic reorganisation of states done?
After public protests (like Potti Sriramulu’s death), states were reorganised on linguistic lines in 1956 to respect cultural and language identities.
Q12. What is the States Reorganisation Commission?
Formed in 1953 to recommend redrawing state boundaries based on language, leading to the States Reorganisation Act of 1956.
Q13. What was Nehru’s vision of nation-building?
Unity in diversity, secularism, democracy, socialism, and scientific development were core ideals of Nehru’s nation-building vision.
Q14. What is the significance of the Constitution of India?
It laid the legal foundation for democracy, secularism, federalism, and individual rights, ensuring unity and governance in a diverse country.
Q15. What was the first general election like in India?
Held in 1951–52, it was a massive democratic exercise with universal adult franchise, despite widespread illiteracy and logistical challenges.
Q16. Why was the Indian model of democracy unique?
India adopted democracy despite poverty and diversity, proving critics wrong by sustaining it through elections, institutions, and political awareness.
Q17. What is secularism in Indian context?
India respects all religions equally, does not promote any state religion, and ensures religious freedom and harmony.
Q18. What is meant by national integration?
It means uniting different regions, cultures, languages, and communities to build a cohesive and inclusive nation.
Q19. What were the challenges of economic development?
Widespread poverty, unemployment, low productivity, and poor infrastructure made balanced development a tough task for early governments.
Q20. How did India promote planned development?
By setting up the Planning Commission and launching Five-Year Plans to guide growth in industry, agriculture, education, and health.
Q21. What is the significance of the Five-Year Plans?
They focused on removing poverty, creating employment, improving infrastructure, and ensuring balanced regional and sectoral development.
Q22. What is the Green Revolution?
An agricultural reform in the 1960s introducing HYV seeds, irrigation, and fertilizers, boosting food production but also increasing regional inequalities.
Q23. How did India ensure social justice post-independence?
Through land reforms, reservations for SC/STs, educational opportunities, and laws against discrimination to uplift marginalised communities.
Q24. What was the Zamindari abolition?
It ended landlordism to empower tenants and redistribute land, forming the basis for agrarian reforms in many states.
Q25. Why was Nehru critical of capitalism?
He believed capitalism causes inequality. He promoted a mixed economy where both public and private sectors worked together for inclusive development.
Q26. What is a mixed economy?
An economic system combining private enterprise with government control in key sectors like steel, power, banking, and infrastructure.
Q27. How did India handle diversity?
Through federalism, secularism, democratic institutions, and respect for cultural identities, India accommodated multiple communities peacefully.
Q28. Why did India adopt universal adult suffrage?
To ensure equality, inclusiveness, and democratic participation for all citizens regardless of caste, class, or gender.
Q29. What is the role of the Election Commission?
It conducts free and fair elections, maintains electoral rolls, regulates political parties, and ensures democratic functioning in India.
Q30. What made India’s national unity successful?
Strong leadership, inclusive Constitution, secularism, democratic institutions, linguistic accommodation, and popular participation made India’s unity a global success story.