About Class 12 Political Science Chapter 5 MCQ
Welcome to our comprehensive collection of Class 12 Political Science Chapter 5 MCQ on Challenges to and Restoration of the Congress System. This resource contains 20 carefully curated multiple choice questions with detailed answers aligned with the CBSE curriculum 2025-26.
These MCQs cover crucial topics including the 1967 elections, political succession after Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri’s tenure, Indira Gandhi’s rise, the Congress split of 1969, the Syndicate, non-Congressism, 1971 elections, and the Garibi Hatao slogan. Master these questions to excel in your CBSE board exams!
Question 1
When did Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru pass away?
- a) May 1962
- b) May 1963
- c) May 1964
- d) May 1965
Answer: c) May 1964
He had been unwell for more than a year before his death.
Question 2
Who became India’s Prime Minister after Nehru?
- a) Morarji Desai
- b) Lal Bahadur Shastri
- c) Indira Gandhi
- d) K. Kamaraj
Answer: b) Lal Bahadur Shastri
He was unanimously chosen as the leader of the Congress parliamentary party.
Question 3
What was Lal Bahadur Shastri’s famous slogan?
- a) Garibi Hatao
- b) Jai Jawan Jai Kisan
- c) Indira Hatao
- d) Jai Hind
Answer: b) Jai Jawan Jai Kisan
It symbolized the country’s resolve to face challenges of war and food crisis.
Question 4
When did Lal Bahadur Shastri die?
- a) 10 January 1965
- b) 10 January 1966
- c) 10 January 1967
- d) 10 January 1968
Answer: b) 10 January 1966
He died in Tashkent after signing an agreement with Pakistan.
Question 5
Who competed against Indira Gandhi for the post of Prime Minister in 1966?
- a) K. Kamaraj
- b) Morarji Desai
- c) Lal Bahadur Shastri
- d) Y.B. Chavan
Answer: b) Morarji Desai
Indira Gandhi defeated him by securing support of more than two-thirds of Congress MPs.
Question 6
In which year were the Fourth General Elections held?
- a) 1965
- b) 1966
- c) 1967
- d) 1968
Answer: c) 1967
The year 1967 is considered a landmark year in India’s political and electoral history.
Question 7
In how many states did the Congress lose majority in 1967 elections?
- a) Five states
- b) Seven states
- c) Nine states
- d) Eleven states
Answer: c) Nine states
Congress lost in Punjab, Haryana, UP, MP, Bihar, West Bengal, Orissa, Madras and Kerala.
Question 8
Which regional party came to power in Madras (Tamil Nadu) in 1967?
- a) AIADMK
- b) DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam)
- c) Justice Party
- d) Dravida Kazhagam
Answer: b) DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam)
This was the first time any non-Congress party secured a majority on its own in any state.
Question 9
What does SVD stand for in the context of 1967 coalition governments?
- a) State Vidhayak Dal
- b) Samyukt Vidhayak Dal
- c) Socialist Vidhayak Dal
- d) Special Vidhayak Dal
Answer: b) Samyukt Vidhayak Dal
Joint legislative parties formed by non-Congress parties to support coalition governments.
Question 10
Who gave the strategy of “non-Congressism” a name?
- a) Jayaprakash Narayan
- b) Ram Manohar Lohia
- c) Acharya Narendra Dev
- d) Asoka Mehta
Answer: b) Ram Manohar Lohia
The socialist leader advocated that non-Congress parties should come together.
Question 11
The term “Aya Ram, Gaya Ram” is associated with which political phenomenon?
- a) Coalition politics
- b) Defection
- c) Non-alignment
- d) Emergency
Answer: b) Defection
The phrase originated from Gaya Lal, an MLA in Haryana, who changed parties thrice in a fortnight.
Question 12
What was the “Syndicate” in the context of the Congress party?
- a) A group of young Congress leaders
- b) A group of powerful state leaders controlling the party organization
- c) The Election Commission team
- d) A group of socialist Congress members
Answer: b) A group of powerful state leaders controlling the party organization
Led by K. Kamaraj, it included leaders like S.K. Patil, S. Nijalingappa, and others.
Question 13
When did the Congress party officially split?
- a) 1967
- b) 1968
- c) 1969
- d) 1971
Answer: c) 1969
The split occurred after the Presidential election of 1969.
Question 14
Who won the Presidential election of 1969?
- a) N. Sanjeeva Reddy
- b) V.V. Giri
- c) Zakir Hussain
- d) Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed
Answer: b) V.V. Giri
He contested as an independent candidate with Indira Gandhi’s silent support.
Question 15
What does Congress (R) stand for?
- a) Congress (Reformed)
- b) Congress (Requisitionists)
- c) Congress (Revolutionary)
- d) Congress (Radical)
Answer: b) Congress (Requisitionists)
This faction was led by Indira Gandhi, while the Syndicate led Congress (O) – Organisation.
Question 16
How many banks were nationalized by Indira Gandhi in 1969?
- a) Ten banks
- b) Twelve banks
- c) Fourteen banks
- d) Sixteen banks
Answer: c) Fourteen banks
Bank nationalization was one of the major policy measures announced by Indira Gandhi.
Question 17
When were the Fifth General Elections held?
- a) December 1970
- b) February 1971
- c) March 1972
- d) January 1970
Answer: b) February 1971
The Lok Sabha was dissolved in December 1970 and elections were held in February 1971.
Question 18
What was Indira Gandhi’s famous slogan in the 1971 elections?
- a) Jai Jawan Jai Kisan
- b) Indira Hatao
- c) Garibi Hatao
- d) Congress Jeetegi
Answer: c) Garibi Hatao (Remove Poverty)
This positive slogan contrasted with the opposition’s negative “Indira Hatao” slogan.
Question 19
How many seats did Congress (R) win in the 1971 elections?
- a) 300 seats
- b) 325 seats
- c) 352 seats
- d) 375 seats
Answer: c) 352 seats
Congress (R) won 352 seats with about 44% of the popular votes.
Question 20
What was the “Grand Alliance” in 1971?
- a) An alliance of Congress factions
- b) An electoral alliance of non-communist, non-Congress opposition parties
- c) An international alliance
- d) An alliance of communist parties
Answer: b) An electoral alliance of non-communist, non-Congress opposition parties
It included SSP, PSP, BJS, Swatantra Party, and BKD but proved to be a grand failure.