Contemporary Issues in Indian Politics: Popular Movements
Multiple Choice Questions with Answers
1.Which of the following is considered a primary focus of the Women's Movement in India?
a) Promoting religious harmony
b) Achieving gender equality and women's empowerment
c) Advocating for economic liberalization
d) Demanding regional autonomy
Answer: b) Achieving gender equality and women's empowerment
2.The Chipko Movement is primarily associated with which type of popular movement?
a) Women's Movement
b) Dalit Movement
c) Environment Protection Movement
d) Farmers' Movement
Answer: c) Environment Protection Movement
3.What was the main method of protest adopted by the women in the Chipko Movement?
a) Hunger strike
b) Boycotting elections
c) Hugging trees to prevent felling
d) Forming human chains in cities
Answer: c) Hugging trees to prevent felling
4.The Narmada Bachao Andolan is a prominent example of a movement against:
a) Forest fires
b) Large dam projects and displacement
c) Pollution from industries
d) Poaching of wildlife
Answer: b) Large dam projects and displacement
5.Who is a prominent figure associated with the Narmada Bachao Andolan?
a) Sunderlal Bahuguna
b) Medha Patkar
c) Baba Amte
d) Both b and c
Answer: d) Both b and c
6.The term "development-induced displacement" refers to:
a) Migration due to natural disasters
b) Forced relocation of people due to large-scale development projects
c) Voluntary migration for better economic opportunities
d) Displacement caused by war and conflict
Answer: b) Forced relocation of people due to large-scale development projects
7.Which of the following is a key demand of the Women's Movement regarding legal reforms?
a) Abolition of property rights for men
b) Equal pay for equal work and laws against domestic violence
c) Preferential treatment for women in all government jobs
d) Reservation of all political seats for women
Answer: b) Equal pay for equal work and laws against domestic violence
8.Environmental movements in India often raise concerns about:
a) The spread of internet
b) Sustainable development and ecological balance
c) Growth of nuclear power plants exclusively
d) Promotion of traditional agricultural practices only
Answer: b) Sustainable development and ecological balance
9.What was a significant outcome of the Women's Movement's advocacy for legal changes?
a) The right to vote was granted to women
b) Laws against dowry and domestic violence were strengthened
c) Women were banned from certain professions
d) All personal laws were immediately unified
Answer: b) Laws against dowry and domestic violence were strengthened
10.The Silent Valley Movement was an early environmental protest aimed at protecting:
a) A mangrove forest
b) A hydroelectric project site in Kerala's rainforest
c) A desert ecosystem
d) An urban park
Answer: b) A hydroelectric project site in Kerala's rainforest
11.What common concern links the Women's Movement, Environmental Movement, and Development-Displacement Movements?
a) All focus exclusively on urban issues.
b) All are global movements with no specific Indian context.
c) All advocate for greater social justice and protection of marginalized groups' rights.
d) All aim to overthrow the government.
Answer: c) All advocate for greater social justice and protection of marginalized groups' rights.
12.A major critique of large development projects, leading to displacement, is that they often:
a) Benefit all sections of society equally.
b) Disproportionately affect tribal communities and the poor.
c) Are always environmentally friendly.
d) Lead to voluntary relocation.
Answer: b) Disproportionately affect tribal communities and the poor.
13.The Anti-Arrack Movement was a significant part of the Women's Movement in which state?
a) Rajasthan
b) Andhra Pradesh
c) Uttar Pradesh
d) West Bengal
Answer: b) Andhra Pradesh
14.What is the primary demand of displacement movements?
a) Higher compensation and proper rehabilitation for affected people
b) Immediate halt to all development projects
c) Exemption from all taxes
d) Creation of separate states for displaced persons
Answer: a) Higher compensation and proper rehabilitation for affected people
15.The concept of "Ecofeminism" links which two movements?
a) Anti-globalization and Farmers' movements
b) Women's Movement and Environment Protection Movements
c) Dalit Movement and Human Rights Movement
d) Peace Movement and Anti-Nuclear Movement
Answer: b) Women's Movement and Environment Protection Movements
16.Which of the following best describes the nature of popular movements in Indian politics?
a) They are always violent and disruptive.
b) They are spontaneous and disorganized protests without specific goals.
c) They are sustained collective actions by citizens to bring about social or political change.
d) They are led exclusively by political parties.
Answer: c) They are sustained collective actions by citizens to bring about social or political change.
17.The issue of sexual harassment at the workplace led to significant activism by the Women's Movement, culminating in which Supreme Court guidelines?
a) Shah Bano case guidelines
b) Vishakha Guidelines
c) Mandal Commission guidelines
d) Forest Rights Act guidelines
Answer: b) Vishakha Guidelines
18.The "Save Western Ghats" agitation is an example of an environmental movement focusing on:
a) Protecting deserts
b) Preserving biodiversity and ecological sensitivity of a mountain range
c) Cleaning urban rivers
d) Promoting coal mining
Answer: b) Preserving biodiversity and ecological sensitivity of a mountain range
19.What is a common strategy adopted by development-displacement movements to gain attention?
a) Building new infrastructure themselves
b) Filing petitions, organizing rallies, and seeking legal intervention
c) Forming rival governments
d) Investing in multinational corporations
Answer: b) Filing petitions, organizing rallies, and seeking legal intervention
20.What fundamental right is often highlighted by movements protesting against development-induced displacement?
a) Right to education
b) Right to privacy
c) Right to livelihood and dignified rehabilitation
d) Right to vote at 16
Answer: c) Right to livelihood and dignified rehabilitation
1. What are the main purposes of women's movements in India?
The main purposes of women's movements in India are multifaceted, aimed at achieving gender equality and empowering women across all spheres of life. Historically, they have fought against social evils like Sati, child marriage, and dowry, seeking legal reforms and societal change. Contemporary movements also focus on issues such as ensuring equal political representation, combating domestic violence and sexual harassment, and advocating for economic parity and equal opportunities in the workplace. Furthermore, they strive to challenge patriarchal norms, enhance women's access to education and healthcare, and ensure their bodily autonomy and freedom from discrimination. Ultimately, these movements seek to create a society where women can exercise their rights fully and live with dignity and safety.
2. Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA)?
The Narmada Bachao Andolan (Save Narmada Movement) is a prominent social movement against the construction of large dams across the Narmada River, particularly the Sardar Sarovar Dam. Its main purpose was to oppose the displacement of millions of tribal people and farmers who would lose their homes and livelihoods due to the submergence caused by these mega-projects. The movement challenged the very model of development that prioritized large infrastructure over human rights and environmental sustainability. It demanded proper rehabilitation and resettlement for those displaced, along with a re-evaluation of the project's ecological impact. Led by activists like Medha Patkar and Baba Amte, NBA brought national and international attention to the plight of development-induced displaces, advocating for a more humane and ecologically sound approach to development.
3. Chipko Movement?
The Chipko Movement was a non-violent environmental movement that originated in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand (then Uttar Pradesh) in the 1970s. Its primary purpose was to protect forests from commercial logging by contractors, which threatened the region's fragile ecosystem and the livelihoods of local communities. The unique method of protest involved villagers, particularly women, literally 'hugging' trees to prevent them from being felled, hence the name "Chipko" (to stick). This grassroots movement highlighted the deep connection between local communities and their natural environment, advocating for sustainable forest management. It gained significant attention, contributing to policy changes that restricted commercial logging in the Himalayas and promoting greater awareness about environmental conservation.
4. POSCO Movement?
The POSCO movement refers to a prolonged and intense anti-displacement agitation against the proposed steel plant by the South Korean company POSCO in Jagatsinghpur district, Odisha. The primary purpose of this movement was to prevent the forceful acquisition of fertile agricultural land, forest land, and fishing villages that sustained the livelihoods of thousands of local farmers and fisherfolk. Villagers formed human chains and blockades, resisting land acquisition for years, fearing loss of their traditional occupations and displacement. The movement also raised concerns about the environmental impact of the mega-project on the ecologically sensitive coastal area. It became a significant symbol of people's resistance against development projects that ignore local rights and environmental costs, eventually leading to POSCO abandoning the project.
5. What are the main objectives of environment protection movements?
The main objectives of environment protection movements in India are diverse, aiming to safeguard the country's ecological balance and natural resources. A primary goal is to advocate for sustainable development practices that minimize environmental degradation and resource depletion, ensuring future generations can meet their needs. These movements strive to raise public awareness about issues like pollution, deforestation, biodiversity loss, and climate change, mobilizing citizens for conservation efforts. They also pressure governments and industries to adopt eco-friendly policies, enforce environmental regulations, and prioritize ecological impact assessments for development projects. Furthermore, they often champion the rights of indigenous communities whose livelihoods are intrinsically linked to natural ecosystems, promoting a holistic approach to environmental justice.
6. What are the main reasons for the emergence of anti-displacement movements?
Anti-displacement movements primarily emerge due to the forced relocation and loss of livelihoods experienced by communities impacted by large-scale development projects like dams, mines, industrial zones, or urban infrastructure. A major reason is the inadequacy or absence of fair compensation and proper rehabilitation policies for the displaced, leaving them marginalized and impoverished. These movements also arise from the perceived injustice that the benefits of such projects accrue to a few, while the costs (social, environmental, and economic) are borne by vulnerable local populations, often tribal communities and farmers. A strong sense of attachment to ancestral land, cultural heritage, and traditional ways of life, threatened by displacement, further fuels resistance. Lack of consultation and democratic participation in decision-making processes for these projects is another significant cause for these movements.
7. What are the issues of women's movements in India?
Women's movements in India address a wide array of issues spanning social, economic, political, and cultural spheres. Key concerns include combating gender-based violence, such as domestic violence, sexual harassment, rape, and dowry-related deaths, advocating for stringent laws and their effective implementation. Economic issues like the gender pay gap, lack of equal opportunities, and inadequate representation in formal sectors remain central. Politically, movements demand increased representation of women in legislative bodies and decision-making roles. Socially, they challenge patriarchal norms, gender stereotypes, and discrimination in education, health, and property rights. Access to quality healthcare, particularly reproductive health, and ensuring safety in public spaces are also critical issues that continue to drive women's activism.
Long Questions
1. Write an essay on women's movements in India.
Women's movements in India represent a dynamic and continuous struggle for gender equality and justice, evolving significantly since the 19th-century social reform efforts. Early movements, often led by men, focused on abolishing practices like Sati, child marriage, and promoting widow remarriage and education. Post-independence, women actively participated in various social and political struggles, from the anti-price rise movement to the Chipko movement, highlighting their agency. The late 1970s saw the emergence of autonomous women's organizations, shifting focus to issues like domestic violence, sexual harassment, dowry deaths, and advocating for legal reforms such as the Dowry Prohibition Act and Vishakha Guidelines. Contemporary movements continue to address issues of political representation, economic empowerment, health, and challenging patriarchal norms, striving for a truly equitable society where women's rights are fully realized.
2. Discuss the issues of environmental protection movements in India.
Environmental protection movements in India address a range of critical issues stemming from rapid industrialization and unsustainable development. A primary concern is the widespread deforestation and loss of biodiversity, threatening fragile ecosystems and indigenous livelihoods, as highlighted by movements like Chipko and Appiko. Pollution of air, water, and land due to industrial waste, urbanization, and agricultural practices is another major issue, impacting public health and ecological balance. Many movements, like the Narmada Bachao Andolan, also confront the adverse impacts of large development projects, raising concerns about displacement, loss of common property resources, and the destruction of natural habitats. These movements advocate for sustainable resource management, stricter environmental regulations, and greater accountability from both government and corporations to ensure ecological security.
3. Explain the major issues of development and displacement movements.
Development and displacement movements in India arise from the profound human cost of large-scale infrastructure and industrial projects. The major issue is the forced eviction and relocation of communities, particularly tribal populations and marginalized farmers, from their ancestral lands. This displacement often leads to loss of livelihoods, as traditional occupations tied to land and forests are destroyed. Another critical issue is inadequate compensation and rehabilitation, with many displaced persons receiving insufficient financial aid or being resettled in areas lacking basic amenities and opportunities, pushing them into further impoverishment. These movements also highlight the destruction of social networks, cultural heritage, and psychological trauma associated with forced migration. They question the very model of development that prioritizes economic growth over human rights and environmental sustainability, demanding a more inclusive and equitable approach.
