Question

Explain any three major developments which took place in Indian politics during the last decade of the 20th century.

Answer 1

Three crucial changes in Indian politics in the 1990s:

1. When the National Front government implemented the Mandal Commission, it gave people from other backward groups special rights in education and jobs. This caused heated arguments in the country, which led to the level of bloodshed. Because so many people got involved, the Dalits formed a stronger political group and got support from parties across the country, like the Bahujan Samaj Party. These groups, led by powerful people like Kanshi Ram, gave people from disadvantaged classes a voice in politics and worked to improve the lives of Bhaujans (SC, ST, OBC, and religious minorities).
2. The demolition of the controversial Babri Masjid building in Ayodhya in December 1992 sparked the Ayodhya controversy. The destruction echoed concerns about majority rule that emerged after partition, sparking a debate on secularism. People began to question whether India truly desired equal treatment for all its individuals, regardless of their religion. Examining the use of religious sentiments in politics was also crucial. India is a democratic country that doesn't believe in ethnic politics. However, it has had problems like the anti-Sikh riots in 1984 and the violence against Muslims in Gujarat in 2002, which are harmful to democracy.
3. Third, there was a big change in economic policy. The government implemented the structural adjustment program, also known as new financial measures. Rajiv Gandhi initially implemented these changes, which gained popularity under PM P.V. Narasimha Rao in 1991. They changed the course of India's economy since independence. Later governments have stuck to these globalization, privatization, and liberalization policies, even though many groups and movements have criticized them.