Deck 8: India

Question 1

India is a wealthy democracy.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Colonialism involved economic exploitation but seldom enriched the imperial power.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

India was colonized by the French who used a system of direct rule under a governor-general.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Gandhi's nonviolent movement was successful at ousting the British.

Question 5

The result of the 2014 Indian election was that a majority of seats in parliament are controlled by leftwing parties with socialist agendas.

Question 6

India and China have pursued very similar development paths that rely heavily on unskilled labor.

Question 7

The United States and India were close allies during the Cold War and remain close allies today.

Question 8

The Indian government encourages secularism but a significant portion of the population often calls for more influence from religion.

Question 9

The statist policies of Nehru appear to have hindered the Indian economy. Many leaders since Nehru have advocated for more of a free market approach.

Question 10

The caste system is no longer used or relevant in India.

Question 11

Which of the following is a typical characteristic of a developing area?

A) mostly poor
B) quite stable
C) mostly white
D) little corruption

Question 12

What is the largest religious group in India?

A) Muslims
B) Christians
C) Buddhists
D) Hindus

Question 13

India's first Prime Minister was __________.

A) Nehru
B) Gandhi
C) Singh
D) Desai

Question 14

Prior to 1977, India was considered a __________-party system. Now it is best described as a(n) __________-party system.

A) two; one
B) multi; one
C) protest; two
D) dominant; fragmented

Question 15

Which of the following most accurately describes Indira Gandhi's tenure?

A) hyper-democratic
B) long and relentless
C) notable for rapid economic development and a bulging middle class
D) notable for its broad use of emergency powers in violation of civil rights

Question 16

What is the lower house of the Indian parliament?

A) Congress
B) Lok Sabha
C) Raj
D) Rajya Sabha

Question 17

How are most members of India's Rajya Sabha selected?

A) elected in a proportional representation system
B) elected in a single-district, plurality system
C) chosen by state assemblies with each state having 10 members
D) chosen by state assemblies with the number of members determined by each population

Question 18

What is the relationship between India's central and state governments?

A) a pure unitary system
B) a unitary system with a "governor's rule"
C) a pure federal system
D) a federal system with a "president's rule"

Question 19

The relationship between Hindus and Sikhs was undermined by the authoritarian rule of __________ in the 1970s.

A) Manmohan Singh
B) Indira Gandhi
C) Jawaharlal Nehru
D) Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Question 20

Which party was dominant before 1977?

A) BJP
B) Congress
C) Janata
D) PRI

Question 21

The __________ is the authority of the central government to take over state governments under certain conditions.

A) swaraj
B) president's rule
C) universal doctrine
D) emergency powers act

Question 22

In the unofficial competition between the two countries, China has a(n) __________ edge over India, but India has a(n) __________ edge over China.

A) political; stabilizing
B) economic; political
C) cultural; political
D) population growth; economic

Question 23

Those from discriminated-against casts are given "scheduled" status, which entitles them to __________.

A) affirmative-action programs
B) two votes in all federal elections
C) their own independent state
D) education in their native language

Question 24

In most cases, stable democracies have a per capita GDP of $10,000 per year. Where does India fit with this relationship?

A) India has a GDP above $10,000 and is a stable democracy.
B) India has a GDP under $10,000 and is a stable democracy.
C) India has a GDP above $10,000 and is not a stable democracy.
D) India has a GDP under $10,000 and is not a stable democracy.

Question 25

Where does executive power primarily lie in India?

A) Lok Sabha
B) Supreme Court
C) prime minister
D) president

Question 26

The __________ breaks up parliamentary sovereignty through the ability to review and overturn legislation.

A) president
B) prime minister
C) Supreme Court
D) Congress Party

Question 27

Which of the following castes is the highest and includes priests, teachers, and philosophers?

A) Brahmins
B) Kshatriya
C) Vaisya
D) Sudra

Question 28

Which is the lowest Indian social group, whose members are outside the caste system?

A) Dalits
B) Kshatriya
C) Sudra
D) Jatis

Question 29

The Congress Party, long identified as the leftist Indian party, has moved toward the center in recent years by __________.

A) increasing import substitution
B) emphasizing its Hindu roots
C) promoting a market economy
D) increasing statist economic policies

Question 30

Which of the following has been a major source of tension between India and Pakistan?

A) intellectual property rights
B) human rights abuses
C) access to the Arabian Sea
D) Kashmir

Question 31

The most developed countries have the bulk of their workers in the __________ sector. The bulk of India's workers are in the __________ sector.

A) industrial; service
B) service; agricultural
C) agricultural; industrial
D) industrial; industrial

Question 32

Most Indian prime ministers have been __________.

A) members of the minority party in the upper house
B) members of the BJP
C) members of the governing coalition in the lower house
D) British

Question 33

What proportion of Indians lives on less than $2 a day?

A) one-tenth
B) one-quarter
C) one-half
D) two-thirds

Question 34

Who was elected president of India in 2012?

A) Pranab Mukherjee
B) Pratibha Patil
C) Jawaharlal Nehru
D) Indira Gandhi

Question 35

India's Marxist guerrillas are called __________. They are intent on overthrowing the government.

A) the FARC
B) Zapatistas
C) Kshatriya
D) Naxalites

Question 36

India and Pakistan have the same colonial history. What explains their divergent paths following independence from Britain? Provide at least three explanations with appropriate examples.

Question 37

Describe the party system in India, including the number and type of parties or coalitions. How do you reconcile this with the fact that India has a single-member district, plurality electoral system?

Question 38

Discuss three elements of Indian political culture. Which is the most threatening to Indian democracy and which is the most supportive?

Question 39

Which Indian political institution is the most powerful? How so? Provide examples in your explanation as well as a direct comparison with at least two other political institutions.

Question 40

What type of economic system does India currently have? How is this different from previous economic systems? Which economic system has been most beneficial? Does everyone in Indian society benefit from the current economy? Explain.