CUET UG Political Science Syllabus

What economic reform turned China into a major power, and when did it begin?

China's economic reforms (open-door policy) initiated by Deng Xiaoping in 1978, gradually opening the economy and privatising agriculture and industry.

Define Globalisation.

A multidimensional process involving the worldwide flows of ideas, capital, goods, services, and people, leading to greater interconnectedness and interdependence across the globe.

What are the main causes/drivers of globalisation?

Technological advances (especially in communications, transport, and microelectronics) and the worldwide flow of capital, goods, and people; technology is the key cause.

Distinguish economic, political, and cultural globalisation.

Economic: flows of capital, goods, trade, and labour. Political: changing role of the state and rise of international institutions. Cultural: spread of ideas, lifestyles, and homogenisation/heterogenisation of culture.

What is 'cultural homogenisation' vs 'cultural heterogenisation'?

Homogenisation: the world becoming culturally similar (often dominated by Western/American culture). Heterogenisation: cultures absorbing outside influences while remaining distinct, producing greater diversity.

What is anti-globalisation / the World Social Forum?

A global movement opposing the negative effects of corporate-led globalisation. The World Social Forum (first held in Brazil, 2001) is a platform under the slogan 'Another World is Possible'.

What major challenges did India face at independence (1947)?

Three challenges: (1) shaping a united nation accommodating diversity, (2) establishing democracy, and (3) ensuring development and economic well-being for all.

How many princely states existed at independence and who led their integration?

About 565 princely states; their integration into India was led by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (with V.P. Menon).

What was the Partition of India (1947) and its consequences?

The division of British India into India and Pakistan on religious lines; it caused communal violence, the death of an estimated several hundred thousand to a million people, and the migration of about 80 lakh (8 million) refugees.

On what basis were Indian states reorganised, and by which Act?

On a linguistic basis, formalised by the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, which created states along linguistic lines.

What was the role of the States Reorganisation Commission (1953)?

It was appointed to examine the demand for redrawing state boundaries; it recommended reorganisation of states largely on linguistic lines, leading to the 1956 Act.

Which state was the first to be created on a linguistic basis and when?

Andhra Pradesh, created in 1953 (carved out for Telugu-speaking people) after the death of Potti Sriramulu following his fast.

What is meant by the 'Congress system' / one-party dominance?

The period (roughly 1952-1967) when the Indian National Congress dominated elections and government at the centre and in states, while democratic competition still existed—described by Rajni Kothari as the 'Congress system'.

What is the difference between one-party dominance in India and in other countries?

In India, Congress dominance occurred within a democratic, competitive multiparty system through free elections; in countries like China, the USSR, or Mexico, it was through one-party rule that suppressed opposition.

Who were the prominent opposition leaders during the era of Congress dominance?

Leaders like Shyama Prasad Mukherjee (Jana Sangh), A.K. Gopalan (CPI), Acharya Narendra Dev (Socialists), and Minoo Masani (Swatantra Party).

What happened in the 1967 general elections?

Congress's dominance was shaken: it retained the centre with a reduced majority, lost power in many states, and non-Congress coalition (Samyukta Vidhayak Dal) governments were formed—marking the end of the 'Congress system'.

What was the Emergency in India and when was it declared?

A national Emergency declared on 25 June 1975 by President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed on PM Indira Gandhi's advice, under Article 352, citing 'internal disturbance'. It lasted until March 1977.

What event triggered the 1975 Emergency?

The Allahabad High Court judgment (Raj Narain case) declaring Indira Gandhi's 1971 Lok Sabha election invalid, combined with the JP Movement / 'Total Revolution' led by Jayaprakash Narayan.

List two key consequences of the 1975-77 Emergency.

Suspension of fundamental rights and press censorship; mass arrests of opposition leaders; and controversial policies like forced sterilisation and slum demolitions. It led to the 42nd Amendment.

What was the outcome of the 1977 Lok Sabha elections?

The Congress was defeated for the first time; the Janata Party came to power with Morarji Desai as the first non-Congress Prime Minister of India.

What is the 'Mandal Commission' and what did it recommend?

The Second Backward Classes Commission (1979, headed by B.P. Mandal); it recommended 27% reservation in government jobs and education for Other Backward Classes (OBCs), implemented from 1990.

What major political development occurred in 1989 onwards in Indian politics?

The 'era of coalitions'—the end of single-party dominance, rise of regional and Mandal/Mandir politics, and formation of multiparty coalition governments at the centre.

What was the Ayodhya / Babri Masjid dispute event of 1992?

The demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya on 6 December 1992, which triggered communal violence and intensified debates on secularism in Indian politics.

What is the United Nations, when was it founded, and how many members does it have?

An international organisation founded in 1945 (after WWII) to maintain international peace and security; it currently has 193 member states.

Name the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

The United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, and China (the P-5), each holding veto power.

What is the structure of the UN Security Council?

It has 15 members: 5 permanent members (with veto power) and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.

Match these UN agencies to their functions: WHO, UNICEF, UNESCO, ILO.

WHO – global health; UNICEF – children's welfare; UNESCO – education, science, and culture; ILO – labour rights and standards.

What is the difference between traditional and non-traditional security?

Traditional security concerns military threats to a state's survival (external aggression, war). Non-traditional security covers threats to human survival like terrorism, poverty, disease, migration, and environmental degradation (human and global security).

What are the components of traditional security and the methods to achieve it?

Components: external (military threats) and internal security. Methods: deterrence, defence, balance of power, and alliance building.

What were the main outcomes of the Rio Earth Summit (1992) and the Kyoto Protocol (1997)?

The Rio Summit (UNCED) produced Agenda 21 and conventions on biodiversity and climate change. The Kyoto Protocol set binding targets for industrialised countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

What is the principle of 'Common but Differentiated Responsibilities' (CBDR)?

The idea (from the Rio Summit/UNFCCC) that all countries share responsibility for protecting the global environment, but developed nations bear greater responsibility due to their historically higher contribution to pollution.

What are 'global commons' and 'indigenous people' in environmental politics?

Global commons are areas/resources owned by no single state but shared by all (e.g., the high seas, atmosphere, Antarctica, outer space). Indigenous people are native communities descended from a region's original inhabitants, whose habitats and rights are protected in global environmental movements.