India’s Foreign Policy Class 12 MCQs Questions with Answers
Question 1.
Nehru was our first Prime Minister as well as:
(A) Health Minister
(B) Foreign Minister
(C) Education Minister
(D) Finance Minister
Answer:
(B) Foreign Minister
Question 2.
The foreign policy of independent India vigorously pursued the dream of a peaceful world by advocating the policy of:
(A) non-alignment
(B) no nuclear weapons
(C) military expansion
(D) no Cold War
Answer:
(A) non-alignment
Explanation:
India didn’t join US & USSR during cold war. India advocating the policy of non alignment by reducing the Cold war alliance and led the protest against Neocolonialism.
Question 3.
The …………. laid foundation for Non Alignment Movement established in 1961 with Nehru as the co-founder.
(A) Bandung Conference
(B) Foreign Policy
(C) US Aid
(D) Peace Treaty
Answer:
(B) Foreign Policy
Explanation:
The Bandung Conference and its final resolution laid the foundation for the non- aligned movement during the Cold War. Leaders of developing countries banded together to avoid being forced to take sides in the Cold War contest. The initial motivation for the movement was the promotion of peace.
Question 4.
Select the correct option for the leader and the country that helped to reach the Tashkent agreement between India and Pakistan:
(A) India, Nehru
(B) USSR, Kosygin
(C) Egypt, Nasser
(D) Indonesia, Sukarno
Answer:
(B) USSR, Kosygin
Explanation:
The Tashkent Declaration was a peace agreement between India and Pakistan signed on 10 January 1966 to resolve the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. The meeting was held in Tashkent in the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic, Soviet Union represented by Premier Aleksey Kosygin.
Question 5.
Sri Lanka is a member of :
(A) SAARC
(B) UNESCO
(C) G7
(D) WHO
Answer:
(A) SAARC
Explanation:
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is an organization of eight countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) in South Asia established in 1985.
Question 6.
It was in that full diplomatic relations were restored between India and Pakistan.
(A) 1976
(B) 1966
(C) 1956
(D) 1946
Answer:
(A) 1976
Explanation:
India was attacked by China in I October 1962. It took more than a decade for 1 India and China to resume normal relations.
Question 7.
The first nuclear explosion undertaken by India was in May:
(A) 1964
(B) 1974
(C) 1984
(D) 1994
Answer:
(A) 1964
Explanation:
During the tenure of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, first underground nuclear explosion occurred at Pokhran in Rajasthan on May 18,1974.
Question 8.
The period when the nuclear test was conducted was a difficult period in:
(A) Domestic politics
(B) Foreign politics
(C) Military dominance
(D) Financial world
Answer:
(D) Financial world
Explanation:
The 1973-1975 was a period of economic stagnation where high unemployment and high inflation existed simultaneously.
Question 9.
India opposed the indefinite extension of the NPT in:
(A) 1995
(B) 1985
(C) 1975
(D) 1965
Answer:
(A) 1995
Question 10.
Why stronger countries’ foreign policies were supported by many countries after WW2?
(A) Because stronger countries supported them and aided them financially.
(B) Because they were afraid of being colonized again.
(C) Because most countries in the world did so.
(D) Because they were poor.
Answer:
(B) Because they were afraid of being colonized again.
Explanation:
Most of the newly independent countries feared of the war between the two blocs. They never wanted to face any financial as well as political consequences. Hence, they supported the stronger nations for financial as well as military aid,
Question 11.
In post WW2 era, why the tensions were erupted between India and US?
(A) US feared that India would join USSR.
(B) US wanted to colonize India.
(C) The NAM pursued by India was not liked by USA.
(D) None of the above.
Answer:
(C) The NAM pursued by India was not liked by USA.
Explanation:
While India was trying to convince the other developing countries about the policy of non-alignment, the US was not happy about India’s these independent initiatives. The US also disliked India’s growing partnership with the Soviet Union. Therefore, there was a considerable unease in Indo- US relations during the 1950s.
Question 12.
When did India and China signed Panchsheel agreement?
(A) 24 April, 1954
(B) 29 April, 1954
(C) 30 April, 1954
(D) March, 1959
Answer:
(B) 29 April, 1954
Explanation:
Panchsheel Agreement signed on 29 April 1954 by the Indian Prime Minister Jawahar Lai Nehru and the Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai to make stronger relationship between the two countries.
Question 13.
When did India intervened the Bangladesh Liberation War?
(A) November 1971
(B) February 1971
(C) December 1971
(D) December 1972
Answer:
(C) December 1971
Question 14.
Who among the Prime Ministers of wishes to review the “no first use” policy?
(A) PM Narendra Modi
(B) PM Atal Bihari Vajpeyee
(C) PM Manmohan Singh
(D) All the above
Answer:
(A) PM Narendra Modi
Explanation:
Many nuclear states maintain policies that would permit them to use nuclear weapons in case of any conflict. While India wants a world to be free of nuclear weapons but still they reserved a right to fight back if attacked by any country
Assertion and Reason Based MCQs
Directions: In the following questions, a statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of Reason (R). Mark the correct choice as:
(A) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(B) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(C) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
(D) (A) is false, but (R) is true.
Question 1.
Assertion: The Indian national movement was not an isolated process. It was a part of the worldwide struggle against colonialism and imperialism. Reason: It influenced the liberation movements of many Asian and African countries.
Answer:
(A) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Explanation:
Indian national movement encouraged many colonies to stand against their oppressors. Taking India’s example, many African and Asian countries stood against imperialism.
Question 2.
Assertion: The first Prime Minister, Jawahar Lai Nehru played a crucial role in setting the national agenda. He was his own foreign minister.
Reason: Thus both as the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister, he exercised profound influence in the formulation and implementation of India’s foreign policy.
Answer:
(A) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Explanation:
Being a foreign minister of India, Nehru exercised great influence over designing India’s foreign policies and relations with the other countries. He was the one who came up with an idea of NAM during the cold war era.
Question 3.
Assertion: The foreign policy of independent India vigorously pursued the dream of a peaceful world by advocating the policy of non-alignment, by reducing Cold War tensions and by contributing human resources to the UN peacekeeping operations. [A|
Reason: India continued to oppose Pakistan on joining the Western Camp.
Answer:
(C) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
Explanation:
India indeed advocated the policy of NAM. Taking India’s example, many other nations adopted NAM, but India never criticized nations who have joined any of blocs.
Question 4.
Assertion: While India was trying to convince the other developing countries about the policy of non-alignment, Pakistan joined the US-led military alliances.
Reason: Unlike its relationship with Pakistan, free India began its relationship with China on a very friendly note.
Answer:
(B) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
Explanation:
India never forcefully approached any country to join NAM. On the one hand, Pakistan joined US-led military alliances, India kept developing and maintaining good relations with others.
Question 5.
Assertion: A boundary dispute had surfaced between India and China. India claimed that the boundary was a matter settled in colonial time, but China said that any colonial decision did not apply.
Reason: The China war dented India’s image at home and abroad. India had to approach the Americans and the British for military assistance to tide over the crisis.
Answer:
(B) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
Explanation:
The Chinese denied any agreement happened between India and China regarding the borders. India continued to claim the territories which belonged to her. This dispute led to the war of 1962 for which India was never ready.
Question 6.
Assertion: The Sino- Indian conflict affected the opposition as well.
Reason: This and the growing rift between China and the Soviet Union created irreconcilable differences within the Communist Party of India (CPI).
Answer:
(A) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Question 7.
Assertion: Support for Pakistan came from the US and China. The US-China rapprochement that began in the late 1960s resulted in a realignment of forces in Asia.
Reason: In order to counter the US-Pakistan-China axis, India signed a 20-year Treaty of Peace and Friendship with the Soviet Union in August 1971.
Answer:
(B) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
Explanation:
Pakistan, with the aid from US and China emerged as a threat to India. The treaty signed by India with USSR assured that if there was any attack on India, USSR will provide backup to India.
Question 8.
Assertion: Indian air crafts attacked parts of Pakistan and the army moved into POK and Swat Valley.
Reason: After months of diplomatic tension and military build-up, a full-scale war between India and Pakistan broke out in December 1971.
Answer:
(D) (A) is false, but (R) is true.
Explanation:
India indeed had given the answer to Pakistan’s mischievous acts on the border. But, the attack was never initiated by Indian side, nor did Indian army entered Swat Valley.
Question 9.
Assertion: Nehru had always put his faith in science and technology for rapidly building a modern India.
Reason: A significant component of his industrialization plans was the nuclear programme initiated in the late 1940s under the guidance of Homi . Bhabha.
Answer:
(A) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Explanation:
Nehru was a man of modern ideology. He was the great admirer of science and technology. He had initiated nuclear industry because India wanted to generate atomic energy for peaceful purposes. Nehru was against nuclear weapons.
Question 10.
Assertion: Communist China conducted nuclear tests in October 1964.
Reason: The five nuclear weapon powers, the US, USSR, UK, France, and China – also the five Permanent Members of the UN Security Council – tried to impose the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) of 1968 on the rest of the world.
Answer:
(A) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Explanation:
It has always been a tendency of the powerful nations not to let any other nation be in their competence. Hence, soon after China tested her nuclear weapons, they have come up with NPT.
Question 11.
Assertion: Following the Arab-Israel War of 1973, the entire world was affected by the Oil Shock due to the massive hike in the oil prices by the Arab nations.
Reason: India was not at all affected by the crises at that time. India was already in a position to deal with any economic depression. Nor did oil prices hike in India.
Answer:
(A) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Question 12.
Assertion: There are no differences among political parties about how to conduct external relations.
Reason: Indian politics is generally marked by a broad agreement among the parties on national integration, protection of international boundaries, and on questions of national interest.
Answer:
(C) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
Explanation: There has always been differences among the political parties of India about their external relations. But, this has never affected the foreign affairs of India. India always stood neutral as far as any international conflicts are concerned.
Case-Based MCQs
I. Study the picture below and answer the questions that follow:
Question 1.
What message does this cartoon convey?
(A) Scenario of recession.
(B) Persisting Indo- China tensions.
(C) Boycotting foreign products.
(D) Reduce exports of Indian goods.
Answer:
(B) Persisting Indo- China tensions.
Question 2.
Which year does the event happened?
(A) 1962
(B) 1974
(C) 1969
(D) 1950
Answer:
(A) 1962
Question 3.
Which event does this cartoon depict?
(A) Recession
(B) Globalization
(C) Chinese Invasion
(D) Historical buffer
Answer:
(C) Chinese Invasion
Question 4.
Which two countries relationship were strained after Suppression of Tibetan culture?
(A) India and Nepal
(B) India and Bangladesh
(C) India and China
(D) India and Myanmar
Answer:
(C) India and China
II. Answer the following questions by reading the given paragraph:
The first Prime Minister, Jawahar Lai Nehru played a crucial role in setting the national agenda. He was his own Foreign Minister. Thus, both as the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister, he exercised profound influence in the formulation and implementation of India’s foreign policy from 1946 to 1964.
The three major objectives of Nehru’s foreign policy were to preserve the hard- earned sovereignty, protect territorial integrity, and promote rapid economic development. Nehru wished to achieve these objectives through the strategy of non-alignment. There were, of course, parties and groups in the country that believed that India should be friendlier with the bloc led by the US because that bloc claimed to be pro-democracy. Among those who thought on these lines were
India’s Foreign Policy
leaders like Dr. Ambedkar. Some political parties, which were opposed to communism, also wanted India to follow a pro-US foreign policy. These included the Bharatiya Jan Sangh and later the Swatantra Party. But Nehru possessed considerable leeway in formulating foreign policy.
Question 1.
Who was the foreign minister during the time of Pt. Nehru?
(A) Atal Bihari Vajpayee
(B) Sardar Patel
(C) Nehru himself
(D) Jay Prakash Narayan
Answer:
(C) Nehru himself
Question 2.
What were the three major objectives of Nehru’s foreign policy?
(A) To preserve the hard-earned sovereignty, protect territorial integrity, and promote rapid economic development.
(B) Non alignment policy, cordial relations with the countries of South Asia only, and military expansion to other nations.
(C) To increase imports, motivating foreign investment and encouraging MNCs to set up in India.
(D) None of the above.
Answer:
(A) To preserve the hard-earned sovereignty, protect territorial integrity, and promote rapid economic development.
Explanation:
The three major objectives of Nehru’s foreign policy were to preserve the hard-earned sovereignty, protect territorial integrity, and promote rapid economic development. Nehru wished to achieve these objectives through the strategy of non-alignment.
Question 3.
Which of the following leaders were in favour of supporting the US bloc?
(A) Sardar Patel
(B) Ambedkar
(C) Atal Bihari Vajpayee
(D) All the above
Answer:
(B) Ambedkar
Question 4.
What was the nature of the policy of US bloc?
(A) Pro- communist
(B) Pro- capitalist
(C) Pro- liberalist
(D) Pro-democratic
Answer:
(D) Pro-democratic
III. Read the following paragraph and answer the questions that follow:
India has opposed the international treaties aimed at non-proliferation since they were selectively applicable to the non-nuclear powers and legitimised the monopoly of the five nuclear weapons powers. Thus, India opposed the indefinite extension of the NPT in 1995 and also refused to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
India conducted a series of nuclear tests in May 1998, demonstrating its capacity to use nuclear energy for military purposes. Pakistan soon followed, thereby increasing the vulnerability of the region to a nuclear exchange. The international community was extremely critical of the nuclear tests in the subcontinent and sanctions were imposed on both India and Pakistan, which were subsequently waived.
India’s nuclear doctrine of credible minimum nuclear deterrence professes “no first use” and reiterates India’s commitment to global, verifiable and non-discriminatory nuclear disarmament leading to a nuclear weapons free world. Foreign policy is always dictated by ideas of national interest. In the period after 1990, Russia, though it continues to be an important friend of India, has lost its global pre-eminence. Therefore, India’s foreign policy has shifted to a more pro-US strategy.
Question 1.
Which of the following nuclear treaties were rejected by India?
(A) NPT, CTBT
(B) Kyoto Protocol
(C) Panchsheel Agreement
(D) None of the above
Answer:
(A) NPT, CTBT
Explanation:
India has refused to sign the Treaty on the grounds of CTBT, like the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), is discriminatory. Even before coming into force, the CTBT has helped the cause of test-ban and nuclear disarmament by discouraging member-states from testing for and developing nuclear weapons.
Question 2.
When did India conduct series of nuclear tests?
(A) June 1998
(B) May 1998
(C) April 1998
(D) March 1998
Answer:
(B) May 1998
Question 3.
Why India’s foreign policy shifted to become more pro-US?
(A) Because Russia betrayed India.
(B) Because Russia attacked India.
(C) Because US derived more profit to India.
(D) Because Russia lost its global pre-eminence.
Answer:
(D) Because Russia lost its global pre-eminence.
Explanation:
The absolute increase in its military and economic resources began to compel India to think less like a developing, non-aligned country and more like an emerging and responsible power. India is also struggling to address the tension between the concepts of ‘strategic autonomy’ and ‘strategic influence’. This was the reason for India’s foreign policy shifted to become more pro-US.
Question 4.
Which one of the following is India’s stand for the use of nuclear weapon?
(A) No use of nuclear weapon at all.
(B) No first use of nuclear weapon.
(C) Use nuclear weapon in case of war.
(D) None of the above.
Answer:
(B) No first use of nuclear weapon.
Explanation:
India’s adherence to a no-first- use principle is long-standing. Ever since 1998, when the country went nuclear, New Delhi has rejected the idea of initiating the use of such weapons in any conflict scenario. Nukes, in I Indian strategy, are purely retaliatory. And that stance has made good military and diplomatic sense.
IV. Read the given paragraph and answer the questions that follow:
On April 8th, 2008 The Hindu published an article titled “Potential consequences of a regional nuclear conflict” in which the author convincingly illustrates the dangers a nuclear- armed South Asia presents. The fact that both India and Pakistan, but of course also China, possess nuclear weapons has been an alarming reality since 1998. The relative progress that has been achieved in India- Pakistan relations should not lead one to forget that two conflicts in 1999 and 2001 could easily have escalated into a nuclear confrontation.
India had embarked upon a civilian nuclear program right after her independence but the “weapon option” has always been present. India’s nuclear policy has been an evolutionary, sometimes painful process equally shaped by domestic and international factors. This paper attempts to analyse some of these factors and argues that the development of nuclear weapons was a logical, albeit not planned, consequence of them.
It is interesting that even those in India fiercely opposed to nuclear weapons subconsciously seemed to have realised that India’s nuclear program could not be limited to civilian application forever. On May 27th, 1998, the government of the then- prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee issued a statement to the 12th Lok Sabha titled the “Evolution of India’s Nuclear Policy”.
Question 1.
Which newspaper published the article titled “Potential consequences of a regional nuclear conflict”?
(A) Indian Express
(B) Times of India
(C) The Hindu
(D) Times Now
Answer:
(C) The Hindu
Question 2.
Which of the two conflicts between India and Pakistan could have led to a nuclear war?
(A) 1999 and 2001
(B) 2000 and 2008
(C) 1999 and 2003
(D) None of the above
Answer:
(A) 1999 and 2001
Question 3.
Since 1998, other than India and China, possession of nuclear weapons has been an alarming reality of which country?
(A) USA
(B) Pakistan
(C) Israel
(D) Brazil
Answer:
(B) Pakistan
Question 4.
Who issued the statement in 12th Lok Sabha for “Evolution of India’s nuclear policy”?
(A) Lai Krishna Advani
(B) Atal Bihari Vajpayee
(C) Shri Narendra Modi
(D) Dr. Manmohan Singh
Answer:
(B) Atal Bihari Vajpayee