English Itihas 9th

Let’s discuss. Do you know ?

Find out about the various E. Sreedharan is famous by the
changes that have taken place in nickname as ‘Metroman’. His work
mobile phone technology. Discuss its regarding ‘Delhi Metro’ and ‘Konkan
advantages and disadvantages. Railway’ is noteworthy.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited Konkan Railway : Konkan
(BSNL) : In 2000, the telecommunication Railway started in 1998. There are
department was restructured. The several records of technology to the
responsibility to make policy decisions credit of Konkan Railway which
was retained with the Telecom Department stretches over the four States of
and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited was Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and
established to actually provide the services Kerala over a distance of 760
to consumers. Along with the telephone kilometres. There are 12 tunnels on
service, cellular phone, internet, broadband this track. The 6.5 km tunnel at
services were also made available. Karbude is the longest tunnel. There
are 179 big and 1819 small bridges
Oil and Natural Gas Commission on this track. Out of these, the 2065.8m
(ONGC) : In 1956, the Oil and Natural long bridge on River Sharavati near
Gas Commission was established to Honnawar is the biggest. The 64m tall
search for the deposits of mineral oil bridge on River Panval near Ratnagiri
and natural gas and to increase their is India’s tallest bridge. For avoiding
production. After Digboi in Assam, accidents on tracks that are prone to
mineral oil deposits were found in landslides, there are sensors fitted to
Ankleshwar area in Gujarat. Later, the railway engines.
mineral oil and natural gas deposits were
found in the gulf of Khambhat in In order to bring efficiency, accuracy
Gujarat. and coordination in the reservation system
in rail travel, computerised reservation
In 1974, the Oil and Natural Gas system was started for the first time in
Commission started digging an oil well Delhi in 1984. In the same year, the
in ‘Bombay High’ area with the help of Metro was started in Kolkata.
Russian scientists by a drillship called
‘Sagar Samrat’. From 1975, mineral oil In this way India has been making
and natural gas began to be extracted progress in the fields of science and
from there. Later, more than 8500 oil technology. New inventions have been
wells and 33 natural gas wells dug made. India is an important 21st century
eventually in this area began to contribute nation, which has always used technology
38% of the total mineral oil production for establishing peace in the world. India
in the country and met 14% of the is making all these advancements in order
country’s demand for crude oil. to be the foremost among nations in the
21st century.
Railways and Technology : The
technology adopted by railways has a big In the next chapter, we shall learn
role in the history of modern India. about the progress India has made in the
fields of commerce and trade.

41

Exercises

1. (A) Choose the correct option from the (B) Identify and write the wrong pair.
given options and complete the (1) Prithvi - surface to surface ballistic
statements.
missile
(1) ................. was named as the first (2) Agni - surface to underwater
Chairman of atomic energy
commission. ballistic missile
(3) Akash - from surface to air
(a) Dr Homi Bhabha (b) Dr Homi
Sethna (c) Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam attacking missile
(d) Dr Raja Ramanna (4) Nag - anti-tank missile

(2) ................. was the first completely
indigenous communication satellite
made by ISRO.

(a) Aryabhatt (b) Insat 1 B
(c) Rohini-75 (d) Apple

2. (A) Complete the activity as per the given instruction.
Prepare a timeline of the progress of India in science and technology.

1961 to 1970 1971 to 1980 1981 to 1990 1991 to 2000

1961 2000

India’s first Restructuring of
successful Rocket the Department of
Telecommunications
launch
(2) Why is Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
(B) Write short notes on- called as the ‘Missile Man’?
(1) Space research
(2) Telex service (3) How one can do computerised
(3) Pokhran nuclear test reservation for rail travel ?
(4) Bhaskar - 1 satellite
(4) Write the key features of Konkan
3. Explain the following statements with Railway.
reasons.
(1) Pandit Nehru established the Atomic Projects

Energy Commission. (1) With the help of the internet find
(2) India decided to conduct nuclear information about ‘Thumba
Equatorial Launch Centre’.
tests.
(3) USA imposed economic sanctions on (2) Visit a nearby radio / television centre
and get more information about it.
India.

4. Answer the following questions in
detail.
(1) Which of the everyday services are

influenced by the satellite technology ?

42

8 Industry and Trade

In this chapter, we are going to gather Do you know ?
some information about industry and trade
in India in the post-independence period. ‘Mega cluster’ is a scheme that
helps weavers through self-finance
After India became independent, the groups and non-governmental
Industrial Finance Corporation of India organisations. Help is given in the
was established in 1948 with the purpose form of raw material, design banks,
of making available long term loans to development of technology and
industrial projects. Similarly the Industrial welfare of the weavers.
Development Corporation was established
in 1954 in order to bring about greater Hand sculpting : This is a labour
development of the industrial sector. intensive craft. Sculptors got employment
due to the capacity of the craft to absorb
Some industries in India more craftsmen, small investment, more
profits, preference to exports and possibility
Textile industry : The textile industry of earning more foreign exchange. Several
forms 14% of the total industrial cities have market mechanisms like ‘Dilli
production. Haat’ which enables the craftsmen from
rural and urban areas to get a market for
It includes the powerloom and the their wares.
handloom industries. The handloom
industries are labour intensive. According Automobile industry : India is one
to the ‘Textile Committee Act 1963’, a of the major producers of vehicles.
Textile Committee has been established. Vehicles are exported to 40 countries from
This committee sets the quality standards India.
for textiles manufactured for sale in the
internal market as well as for export. The automobile industry is called the
‘sunrise sector’ in India. For example,
Silk industry : This industry functions India’s tractor industry is the biggest in
under the Ministry of Textiles. The the world. One-third of the tractors
research about the species of the silkworm manufactured world-wide are produced in
and mulberry trees is done in the Seribiotic India. Tractors manufactured in India are
Research Laboratory at Bengaluru. This exported to Turkey, Malaysia and several
industry is primarily in the States of countries in Africa.
Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal
and Jammu and Kashmir. Now it is being Cement industry : The role of
spread in States with predominantly tribal cement industry is important in the
populations. development of housing and infrastructure.
This industry is one of the most
Jute industry : India is the top technologically advanced. India is currently
ranking country in jute production. India an important producer of cement in the
is a major exporter of jute products. We world.
get cloth, sack cloth and ropes from jute.

43

Leather industry : It is a big industry Agriculture is practised in different
in India. It is primarily export oriented. seasons in India. Many varieties of crops
are grown. Jowar, wheat, rice, pulses and
Salt industry : India is one of the oilseeds are mainly produced. Along with
top producers of salt in the world. The it, cotton and sugarcane are processed to
annual production of salt in India is 200 manufacture cloth and sugar respectively.
lakh tons. The production of iodised salt
is 60 lakh tons. Agriculture also includes the production
of fruits and vegetables. Nowadays,
Bicycle industry : India is a leading industries processing these fruits and
producer of bicycles in the world. Bicycles vegetables have come up. Agriculture
are made in the States of Punjab and fulfills man’s basic needs. In order to
Tamil Nadu. The main centre of bicycle encourage farming, loans are given to
manufacturing in India is Ludhiana. India farmers through rural banks and
exports bicycles to countries like Nigeria, cooperative institutions. Study visits,
Mexico, Kenya, Uganda and Brazil. agricultural outdoor trips and farmers’ get-
togethers are organised through the
Khadi and village industry : The Panchayat Samitis to bring about
Khadi and Village Industries Commission improvements in agriculture. Tools and
was established to give impetus to implements, seeds and fertilisers are also
industrialisation in rural areas. The main supplied. The farmers are given training
objectives behind the establishment of the regarding soil testing, nursery of fruit
corporation were to develop the traditional plants, pisciculture, poultry, cattle and goat
industries, handicrafts, cottage industries rearing, dairy farming, etc. Guidance is
and to encourage industries that use the given to farmers by a district level training
material and human resources available institute. Financial help is given to build
at the local level and make the villages warehouses for storing the farm produce.
self-reliant by creating employment there.
India is rapidly becoming independent
Agriculture : In India, agriculture is in food grain production and farming
practised using traditional and modern techniques. Modern techniques like drip
methods. Many agricultural tasks are irrigation, organic farming are used for
performed using bullocks. Similarly, farming.
machines are being used in different tasks
like ploughing, sowing to harvesting, Policy of the Central Government :
threshing, etc. In the fourth five year plan, focus was
placed on paper industry, pharmaceutical
The major occupation in India is industry, motor-tractor industry, leather
agriculture and other tasks based on goods, textile industry, food processing
agriculture. Agriculture and animal industry, oil, colour, sugar industries, etc.
husbandry are practised in villages.
Seventy percent of Indian society depends According to the Industrial Licensing
upon jobs related to agriculture and Policy of 1970, all those factories requiring
agricultural production. In this industry an investment of more than 5 crore rupees
the participation of women is equal to were to be included as heavy industries.
that of men. The big industrial houses and foreign

44

companies were allowed to invest in Corporation. Sale of curios and the hotel
heavy industries that were not reserved industry thrives in tourist places.
for the public sector. As a result of this
policy, by the end of 1972, 3 lakh 18 In some places, there are guides who
thousand small industries were registered give information to tourists about that
with the government registration office. area. Sometimes when vehicles don’t
reach the destination in some remote and
Mineral wealth : The availability of difficult to reach tourist places, the local
the minerals, iron and coal plays a major people help the tourists in return for a
role in the industrial development of the fee. Employment opportunities are
country. We have adequate stores of iron, generated out of these needs.
manganese, coal and mineral oil in our
country. Import-export or foreign trade :
When planning started in 1951, the import
Forest resources : Government has of industrial goods and raw material
reserved some forests for the industries required for production increased, India’s
based on forests. The task of conservation imports included machines, iron, mineral
of the forests is done by the central oil, fertilisers, medicines, etc.
government, the State government and by
the local people. Forests are necessary for India also gave impetus to exports
the raw material for industries like after independence in order to gain
construction, paper, newsprint, silk, valuable foreign exchange. India’s exports
matchboxes, medicinal herbs, honey, included tea, coffee, spices, cotton
lacquer and raw material needed for paint. textiles, leather, footwear, pearls, precious
stones, etc.
Fisheries : Fisheries include sea
water fish and fresh water fish found in Internal trade : India’s internal trade
rivers, canals, ponds and lakes. takes place via railways, waterways,
roads, airways, etc. Ports like Mumbai,
Harbours have been built or old Kolkata, Cochi and Chennai are important.
harbours have been redeveloped, fish seed Commodities like coal, cotton, cotton
incubation centres and fishing industry textiles, rice, wheat, raw jute, iron, steel,
training centres have been provided for oilseeds, salt, sugar, etc. are included in
the growth of this industry. internal trade.

Tourism : India has a rich cultural Due to the development of industries,
heritage. There are places of worship of the standard of life in the country
different religions, pilgrimage centers, improves. Many opportunities for
confluences of rivers, forts, caves, etc. all employment become available. On the
over our country. Tourists from our whole, it helps in the progress of the
country as well as from abroad travel in country.
India throughout the year. The facilities
for tourists to stay, travel, etc. are In the next chapter, we shall see how
provided through the Tourism Development the life of Indians has been changing.

45

Exercises

1. (A) Choose the correct option from the 2 (A) Complete the activity as per the
given options and complete the given instructions.
statements.
Complete the table.
(1) In 1948, Industrial Finance
Goods imported in
Corporation of India was formed for India
………. . Goods exported
(a) better development of the industrial from India
sector.
(b) making available long term loans to (B) Write short notes on-
industrial projects. (1) India’s imports and exports.
(c) generating employment (2) The internal trade of India.
(d) determining the quality of finished
goods. 3. Explain the following statements with
(2) ………. industry in India is called reasons.
as the ‘Sunrise Sector’. (1) The tourism industry has developed
(a) Jute (b) Automobile (c) Cement
(d) Khadi and village industries a lot in India.
(2) The quality of life and standard of
(3) The major responsibility of the
living of Indian citizens is increasing.
textiles committee is ………. .
4. Answer the following questions in detail.
(a) Production of cloth (1) What efforts are made by our

(b) Determining the quality standards government to promote agricultural
industries?
of cloth (2) How is employment generated in the
tourism sector ?
(c) Export of cloth (3) Which industries in India are based
on forests ?
(d) Generate employment for people (4) Write a short note on leather industry
in India.
(4) ………… is the major Indian city
in the production of bicycles.  Projects

(a) Mumbai (b) Ludhiana (1) Collect pictures of a few successful
(c) Cochi (d) Kolkata entrepreneurs.

(B) Identify and write the wrong pair. (2) From among the things we use in
our daily life, identify those that are
(1) Industrial Finance Corporation of locally manufactured from those that
India - makes long term loans are imported. Prepare a chart.
available for industrial projects.

(2) Industrial Development Corporation -
development of industrial sector.

(3) Textiles Committee - welfare of
weavers.

(4) Khadi and Village Industries
Commission - promotion of
industrialisation in rural areas.

46

9 Changing Life : 1

So far, we have studied the period became the trend in every field of life.
from the year 1961 to 2000. The speed of The following box shows how even
change in the twentieth and the twenty- machines were affected.
first centuries has been tremendous. Human
life is changing rapidly. Things which we Do you know ?

could not have even During the British era, there were
imagined earlier, are four kinds of compartments in the
now a part of reality. railway train – the first, second, inter
In ancient and and third class. Nominal facilities for
medieval periods, the passengers travelling by third class
religion was an and the negative attitude towards them
important part of a was almost a symbol of the Indian
person’s identity. social hierarchy. In the 1978 Railway
Now, modernisation Budget, Madhu Dandawate put an end
has posed some to this third class. Later two trains
challenges before all were started which had no class
Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar religions, be it divisions, namely, ‘Sinhagad Express’
Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, on the Pune-Mumbai route and ‘Gitanjali
Jainism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism or Express’ on the Mumbai-Kolkata route.
Judaism. Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar brought
about a sea change in our traditional Thus began a series of minor and
mindset. He brought it about through the major changes in the society. Now,
medium of the Indian Constitution. anyone can go into a restaurant irrespective
of his religion, race, caste or gender. In
According to our Constitution, all fact, we see boards outside the restaurants
Indians are equal before the law, and welcoming all.
they cannot be discriminated against on
the basis of religion, race, caste, gender Another very significant change
or place of birth. All citizens have the during the post-independence period is the
right to freedom of speech and expression, right to express opinions against the
freedom to assemble peacefully without government. Earlier, there were limits on
arms, freedom to form associations, expressing any opinion against political
freedom to move, to live and settle down rulers. Now Indian citizens can register
anywhere on Indian territory and to their protest against the policies of the
practice any occupation. Indian citizens government through newspapers, speeches
living anywhere in India enjoy the right or other media.
to nurture their language, script and
culture. The Institution of the family :
During the pre-independence period, the
These provisions in the Constitution institution of the family was an important
shook the foundations of the caste system. identifying feature of Indian society. India
It helped to make the practice of vocations was known all over the world as the
running in the family obsolete. Change country of joint families. However, the

47

wave of globalisation has now given an services as well as medical care available
to rural people, the tribals and the poor
impetus to the system of nuclear families. was an objective of the Sixth Five Year
plan. Efforts were made towards helping
Social welfare : The objective to people maintain good health by giving
recognition to Unani, Homoeopathy,
establish the welfare state has been Ayurveda and Naturopathy in addition to
Allopathy.
incorporated in the Constitution itself.
Progress in the medical field has
India is the first country in the world to made the life of Indians relatively free of
health concerns. In 1962, the first
do so. The social welfare programmes successful open heart surgery was
performed under the leadership of Dr N.
aim to make opportunities for full-time Gopinath at Christian Medical College
Hospital at Vellore in Tamil Nadu. Hence,
employment, health care, education and it is no longer necessary to go abroad for
such treatment.
development available to all Indian
Similarly, the invention of the ‘Jaipur
citizens. Indian society is riddled with Foot’ has transformed the lives of the
disabled in India. Before 1968, if a person
large scale economic, social, educational lost a leg in an accident, he had to suffer
for the rest of his life. In order to remedy
and cultural inequalities. However, it is the situation, Dr Pramod Sethi designed
and manufactured artificial limbs, noses
necessary that opportunities for and ears, with the help of the skilled
craftsman Ramchandra Sharma.
development reach women, children, the
The artificial body parts manufactured
differently abled, the scheduled castes and with the help of the Jaipur foot technology
have made it easy for the differently
tribes as well as other minorities. This abled to walk bare-foot on rough surfaces,
run, go cycling, work in the fields, climb
was the greatest challenge facing the trees, and even climb mountains, etc.
They save on the expenses on shoes as
government during the post-independence there is no need for footwear on these
artificial limbs. They can bend their legs
period. That is why, on 14th June 1964, at the knees and sit cross-legged. These
feet are also convenient while working in
the government of India constituted the water or wet conditions.

Ministry of Social Welfare. Under this Kidney transplant : Since this
surgery can now be performed in India,
ministry various programmes are doctors have succeeded in saving patients’
lives. Such surgeries were not so common
implemented for nutrition and child- in India till 1971. But in 1971, it was
successfully performed at the Christian
development, social security and social

protection, women’s welfare and

development. A similar arrangement exists

at the state level too.

Scheduled Castes and Tribes :

According to the 1971 Census, 22% people

in India belonged to scheduled castes and

tribes. Laws were enacted so that they got

educational scholarships, and

representation in Parliament as well State

Assemblies. Some seats are also reserved

for them in Government services.

Public health : The Constitution of

India states that the primary duty of the

government is to raise the people’s

standard of living, to ensure proper

nutrition and to improve public health.

The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare

at the Centre helps the state governments

in this regard. To make primary health

48

Medical College hospital at Vellore in rural areas, job opportunities in cities and
Tamil Nadu. Dr Johny and Dr Mohan the resulting migration. To reduce the
Rao transplanted the kidney donated by strain on cities, it is necessary to make
a living person into the patient’s body. jobs available in villages, achieve a
Nowadays, patients from underdeveloped balance in economic development, control
countries come to India for such surgeries. the expansion of metros and provide
necessary services and facilities in both
Test-tube baby : Right from early the urban as well as rural areas.
times, having a baby is considered to be of
utmost importance in the Indian family Rural Area
system. The support of ‘test-tube baby’
technology has been available to childless A village is a permanent settlement
couples since 1978. It was under the of farmers near the land they themselves
supervision of Dr Subhash Mukhopadhyaya tilled, either individually or collectively.
that the experiment of the test-tube baby Villages came into existence when farming
was successfully carried out at Kolkata. began. Villages in India are thinly
This was the first successful attempt at populated. A dense cluster of houses
artificial conception. A girl named Durga surrounded by farmland is a unique
was born. This technology helped to solve feature of the Indian village. A settlement
the problem of childless couples who smaller than even a village is called a
wanted children. hamlet. Compared to the urban community,
the village community is very small.
Immunisation : Before 1978, every
year, six Indian infants out of every 10 Villages are not uniform across India.
who were born faced fatal health problems There are differences based on regional
in the very first year of their birth. The
immunisation programme was taken up and physical features.
to overcome the threat of polio, measles,
tetanus, TB, diphtheria, and whooping Post-independence period : Keeping
cough. The ‘pulse polio’ immunisation in mind the goal of rural development,
programme started in 1995 has the collective development scheme has
controlled polio. come into force. Plans were made for
improving farming technology, increasing
Urbanisation the area of irrigated land, extending
educational facilities, enacting the laws
Urbanisation is a process of the for land reform under this scheme. It also
concentration of population in a city or aimed at increasing agricultural produce
urban area. Increasing population is one as well as expanding the means of
major reason for urbanisation. A few transport, health services and scope for
other factors affecting urbanisation are education in the rural areas. It was
air, water and the economic as well as decided to give priority to economic
social organisations necessary for development in villages. The government
community life. undertook this work through the medium
of Gram Panchayats which included the
In the context of post-independence people from all castes and tribes. To
India, the increase in urban population is achieve this, the Gram Panchayats,
also due to factors such as reduction in Panchayat Samitis and Zilla Parishads
the mortality rate, industrialisation, were empowered with more authority.
unavailability of means of livelihood in

49

Changing economic life : Earlier, scheme. For example, ‘Zilla Parishads’
were established in 1962. Nutritious diet
every village was economically self- scheme was launched in 1970-1971. The
State also started ‘Rural Water Supply
sufficient. A majority of the villagers Scheme’ for sinking wells and providing
were dependent on farming. Farm produce piped water. By 1971, 1677 small dams
used to be distributed among artisans as had also been built.
payment for their work. Now this situation
has changed. Rural areas are engaged in Rural electrification : Electricity is
agriculture and occupations ancillary to essential for the development of rural
farming while urban society is engaged areas. Automatic pumps are needed to
in non-agricultural production and the water the fields. Electricity is needed to
service sector. preserve perishable food items such as
milk, eggs, fruits and vegetables, to run
Rural Development : In 1961, 82% of fertiliser projects and for fans and TV and
India’s population resided in villages. In for lights for studying at night. During the
1971, the percentage was 80.01%. So far, first five year plan, electricity had been
the rural area has shouldered the
responsibility of providing food grains and Rural and Urban societies during
other raw material to urban areas, supplying Pre-globalisation period
labour to the industrial sectors of the city,
and taking care of natural resources. There Rural Community Urban Community
are three major challenges with reference
to rural development, namely, bringing Priority to farming Priority to non-
about economic development, developing
facilities to meet social needs and finally and ancilliary agricultural
bringing about a change of attitude in
matters concerning society, culture and vocations (jobs) production and
ways of thinking. It is equally necessary to
expedite irrigation projects and bring about services
land reforms.
Small in size, Large in size,
Social needs and facilities : It is
necessary to give priority to facilities for homogeneous in heterogeneous in
public hygiene and health-care. Even
today, the rural population faces problems terms of language, terms of languages,
related to year round provision of drinking
water, toilets, open drainage, narrow culture and cultures and
roads, inadequate electrification and lack
of facilities for medical treatment. There tradition. traditions
is a lack of good quality educational
facilities from primary level to higher Elementary kinds Large industries,
education, centres for recreation and
libraries. That is why it is necessary to of vocations; trend production for
give special attention to rural areas.
of sending global
The collective development scheme
had an important place in all the first villagers to cities consumption,
four five year plans of the government of
India. The State of Maharashtra registered rather than accommodating
remarkable achievements under this
accommodating outsiders.

outsiders in rural

occupations.

Larger proportion Less proportion of
of vocations vocations running
running in the in the family.
family.

Priority to the Family secondary,
head of the priority to
family and to the individuals. Trend
family as an towards - nuclear
institution. Joint families.
family system.

50

provided to three thousand villages in to provide the best quality education to
intelligent and meritorious village students
India. By 1973, it reached 1,38,646 living in unfavourable conditions. As per
the recommendations of the Kothari
villages. From 1966, it was decided to Commission, Agriculture Universities were
also started at Rahuri, Akola, Parbhani
supply more electricity for pumps and and Dapoli in Maharashtra. In recognition
of the work done in the field of education,
borewells. ‘Rural Electrification UNESCO awarded its international prize
for the spread of literacy to Maharashtra
Corporation’ was established in 1969. in 1972.

‘Rural Electrification Co-operative In this way, overcoming the obstacles
at the beginning of post-independence
Societies came into being in the States of period, India began to develop and make
progress. In the next chapter, we shall
Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, learn more about the developments in
other fields.
Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.

Industrial development : A
‘Village Industries Planning Committee’
was formed to help the development of
industry in rural areas. By 1972, 1,06,000
persons got employment under this scheme.

The government of Maharashtra has
also started residential highschools known
as ‘Vidya Niketan’ in Satara, Aurangabad,
Nasik and Chikhaldara. Their purpose is

Exercises

1. Choose the correct option from the 4. Explain the following statements with
given options and complete the statements. reasons.

(1) The first open heart surgery under (1) The campaign for pulse polio
the leadership of Dr N Gopinathan immunisation was taken up.
was successfully performed in the
city of (2) The Rural Water Supply scheme was
started.
(a) Chennai (b) Vellore
(c) Hyderabad (d) Mumbai 5. Answer the following questions in
detail.
(2) is known as the father
(1) Which kinds of discrimination does
of the ‘Jaipur foot’. the Constitution prohibit?

(a) Dr N. Gopinathan (2) What is the aim of the social welfare
programme ?
(b) Dr Pramod Sethi
(3) What are the challenges facing rural
(c) Dr Mohan Rao development ?

(d) None of the above 6. Write a brief review of the significant
events in the field of public health in
2. Identify and write the wrong pair. India.
(1) Dr N. Gopinathan–open heart surgery
(2) Ramchandra Sharma – a skilled Project

craftsman Interview a senior person in your
(3) Dr Subhash Mukhopadhyaya – test neighbourhood to find out about the
following points.
tube baby
(4) Dr Mohan Rao – polio - Changes in the structure of houses
- Change in farming and agriculture
3. Write short notes on- - Availability of vehicles
(1) The Institution of family (2) Jaipur

foot technology (3) Urbanisation

(4) Changing economic life

51

10 Changing Life : 2

In this chapter we shall look at the The English language has been
changes that have taken place in the gaining ground in India due to the process
fields of language, sports, theatre and of globalisation which began after 1990.
films, newspapers and television. English is becoming the language of
livelihood, as it opens the doors to
Language : Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, multiple job opportunities. Moreover,
Gujarati, Kannad, Kashmiri, Malayalam, Indians are at the forefront in learning
Marathi, Odiya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tamil, English. However, it is necessary to
Telugu, Urdu, Konkani, Manipuri, Nepali ensure that this process does not endanger
and Sindhi are the official languages in the very existence of regional languages.
India. These Indian languages also have
dialects, but their number is now on the Let us search !
decline. Timely steps should be taken to
nurture them, otherwise we will lose an Let us gather some information
important part of our heritage. about dialects of Maharashtra with the
Nevertheless, Hindi, which has reached help of various tools. (Encyclopedia,
everywhere through the medium of Hindi Google, Wikipedia, research articles)
movies, has served to unite the country
by language. Sports : During the pre-independence
period, only a few selected games were
Do you know ? known to people in general. Some
sportspersons changed this situation. This
Given below is a list of the enhanced the status of both - the sports,
languages of Nagaland in 1961 and and the sportspersons. For example, Geet
the numbers of people using them. Sethi achieved global excellence in snooker,
a variation of billiards. He won the national
Angami-33766 Sema-47439 championship of billiards for teenagers at
Lotha-26565 Eo-55904 the age of 15. Later, he went on to win
Rengma-5786 Chakhesang-339 national and international championships.
Kheza-7295 Sangtam At the global level, he won the amateur
Sangtam-15508 Pochuri-2736 billiards competition thrice, and the
Chang-11329 Konyak-46653 professional one five times. His success
Yimchunger-10187 Phom-13385 made the game popular, and newspapers
Zeliang Semi-6472 Khiamniungan-12434 began to report news about billiards. Thus
Kuki-Chiru-1175 Liangmai-2969 he made a new field available to rising
Tikhir-2468 Makuri-769 sportspersons in India.

The consequence of this variety It was in 1983, that the Indian team
was that Kohima radio station had to won the World Cup for cricket, under the
make its broadcasts in 25 languages captainship of Kapil Dev. It was a historic
which included English, Hindi, Naga victory. Cricket instantly won great
dialects and 16 Naga languages. popularity across the country. In the same
year, Sunil Gavaskar broke the earlier
record of maximum centuries in test
cricket. In 1985, India won the ‘Benson

52

and Hedges’ World Championship of foreign languages are now translated.
During the screening of English movies, a
cricket. As a short Hindi translation now appears on the
screen as sub - titles. Hindi movies now
result, cricket compete with ‘global’ movies as they have
reached every nook and corner of the world.
came to be played We see a reflection of politics, social
events, industry and technology in the
in all States to a movies. Movies which were 3-4 hours long
are now of only one or one and a half
lesser or greater hours. Moreover, the concept of one screen
and one cinema hall has given way to
extent, but at the multiplexes. The days of a movie running
for 100 weeks in one cinema hall are over.
cost of indigenous Now one movie runs in thousands of
cinema halls in India and abroad
Indian games. A Sunil Gavaskar simultaneously. This development has
few movies were changed the economy of movies. Production
of movies has attained the status of industry.
also produced around the theme of cricket. The industry now employs crores of people.
The movie industry in regional languages
Live telecasts of the full five days or one is also thriving.

day of the matches also became available. Newspapers : The changing lifestyle
has had its effect on newspapers and other
India had been participating in Asiad mass-media, and they in turn have
influenced individual as well as community
and Olympic life. During early post-independence period,
newspapers had multiple objectives. In this
games. At the period, the newspapers were expected to
not only give the news of daily events, but
Olympics of year also give impetus to industry and commerce
by printing advertisements. Newspapers
2000, Karnam functioned with the following objectives :
shape public opinon, direct it towards
Malleshwari won a constructive work, at times lead the latter,
carry on the task of public education, keep
medal for weight- a watch over the government machinery,
etc. Earlier, newspapers were black and
lifting. She was the white. With the changing times, colour
printing became common.
first Indian woman
Earlier, newspapers were thought to be
Karnam Malleshwari to win a medal at the mouthpieces of the taluka or district.
Now they have to face tough competition
the Olympics. India’s representation began from the State level newspaper chains. But
on the whole, newspapers are now becoming
to rise in various Olympic games such as more active. Their scope has enlarged to

hockey, badminton, tennis, swimming,

weightlifting and archery.

Theatre and films : Theatre and

films are important aspects of Indian life.

Early plays were very long, sometimes

running through an entire night. Now, the

form, technique, duration of plays have

all changed. People from different walks

of life take part in the dramas. But

‘musicals’ have now declined in

importance and political and social

subjects have replaced the earlier

mythological and historical themes.

The age of black and white movies has

been succeeded by the age of coloured

movies. In the field of entertainment, the

place of Hindi movies is incomparable.

Now movies reflect contemporary themes.

Film shooting locales have moved abroad.

So, viewers can now see many different

places in foreign countries. Movies in

53

include raising funds for drought affected world of Indian news channels changed
and flood affected people, helping meritorious completely. In 1998, STAR (Satellite
students from lower income groups to go for Television Asia Region) a private media
higher education and organizing or house entered India, and the uninteresting,
sponsoring cultural programmes. This is monotonous and propagandist news telecasts
how newspapers have now become on of the early period underwent a sea change.
inseparable part of our lives.
The language, the technique of
Television : Television came to India presentation, studios equipped with the
during the post-independence period. Earlier latest technology and the use of OB (outdoor
it was black and white. Now it is coloured. broadcasting) vans have expanded the
Earlier it was limited to some selected scope of Indian T.V. channels still further,
programmes and fixed time-slots. Gradually and brought in transparency and variety.
its scope was enlarged to include educational Now, every nook and corner of the country
programmes, news bulletins, detailed is connected. This has had a great impact
reporting of the tours of the President and on politics. In short, the whole country
the Prime Minister. During the telelcast of started changing.
Ramayana and Mahabharat, a majority of
the people used to sit glued to the television So far we have studied the history of
set. These serials proved the popularity of modern India. Next year, we will study
this medium. Then in 1991, CNN channel how to make use of this subject in the
showed to the entire world a live visual practical world. We shall see how history
reporting of the Iraq war. At this stage the can be a part of daily life, and not just
a thing of the past.

Exercises

1. Choose the correct option from the

given options and complete the 3. Explain the following statements with
reasons.
statements.
(1) Cricket began to be played all over
(i) India won the cricket world cup India, to a greater or smaller extent.

under the captainship of . (2) The economy of movies is changing.

(a) Sunil Gavaskar (b) Kapil Dev 4. Answer the following questions in detail.
(1) Why is it necessary to keep alive the
(c) Sayyad Kirmani (d) Sandip Patil
dialects of Indian languages?
(ii) The language is gaining (2) Elaborate upon the changing form of

importance in India due to the process newspapers.
(3) Which changes have taken place in the
of globalisation.
medium of television?
(a) Punjabi (b) French
Projects
(c) English (d) Hindi
(1) With the help of the internet, collect
2. Complete the activity as per the given information about Dadasaheb Phalke
instructions. Complete the following and make a list of persons who have
table. been honoured with the Phalke Award.

1. Important languages in India (2) Organise an essay competition in your
school on ‘Newspapers, the fourth pillar
2. Players who have won medals at of Democracy’.
the Olympic games

3. Childrens’ movies that you have
seen

4. Names of channels telecasting
various news bulletins

54

POLITICAL SCIENCE

INDIA AND WORLD
Contents

No. Chapter Name Page No.

1. Post World War Political Developments 57
2. India’s Foreign Policy 65
3. India’s Defence System 72
4. The United Nations 77
5. India and Other Countries 84
6. International Problems 91

We shall study as Political Science the subject that was
taught as Civics till Std 8th. As we did in Civics, we are going
to study our political life in Political Science, too. This study
will now be broader and in greater depth. Just as political life
includes local government, Constitution, the fundamental rights
and directive principles in the Constitution, it also includes the
governmental system, administration, policy-making, democracy
and different movements. The decisions and policies of the
government and the exercise of authority by government makes
an impact on the life of common people. Political Science studies
all these aspects scientifically and analytically. You will be able
to grasp political developments, various streams of thought and
political processes better with the study of Political Science. This
understanding will help you in achieving excellence in any field
that you are working in.

55

Competencies

S.No. Units Competencies
• To realise that an arms race endangers international peace.
1. Political Developments • To be able to analyse the global developments in the
after the Second War
post-Cold War era.
2. The Progress of India’s • To become familiar with the response given to globalisation
Foreign Policy
by India.
3. India’s Defence System • To discuss the interdependence of different countries in

4. United Nations the context of globalisation.

5. India and Other Countries • To be able to explain the meaning of foreign policy.
• To respect the objectives of foreign policy.
6. International Problems • To be able to explain India’s foreign policy with the help
Challenges
of different events.
• To develop an understanding of the fact that India has

always given priority to international peace and security.

• To understand the nature of India’s defence systems.
• To be able to classify the functions and military of

paramilitary forces.
• To be able to explain the concept of human security.
• To have an understanding of the challenges to internal

security.
• To be able to prepare a research paper by studying one

of the challenges (to India’s internal security)

• To be able to tell that the United Nations is an important
global organisation.

• To elaborate on how the United Nations protect world
peace.

• To develop an understanding that peace is essential for
the development of all nations.

• To be able to explain the need to reform the United
Nations Security Council.

• To be able to explain the impact of India’s geographical
location on India’s internal and foreign policy.

• To realise that India should have friendly relations with
neighbouring countries.

• To analyse the organisations that have come up for
regional cooperation.

• To be able to take stock of the changes in the economic
and trade relations of India with other countries.

• To cultivate the idea that every human being in the world
is entitled to human rights.

• To know how human rights are protected through the
Indian Constitution and laws.

• To develop sensitivity about the fact that the degradation
of the environment is a global problem.

• To be able to explain who are refugees.

56

1 Post World War Political Developments

Let’s revise ! the international system, i.e. today’s
global system.
In the Civics textbooks till now, we
have studied local self-government I wonder  ....
institutions, India’s Constitution and our
political system or governmental structure. * What is the difference between the
In this class, we are going to study interdependence between individuals
India’s relations with the world. You must and that between nations ?
have understood world geography through
the study of geography. You must have * Is there such a division like rich
become familiar with the global historical countries and poor countries ?
events through the study of history. Now
through the study of political science, we * Just as a country is governed by a
are going to study India’s relations with Constitution, is there some kind of
the world and some major global issues. a Constitution at the global level ?

We are dependent on different persons, * Who enjoys the supreme position in
institutions and organisations in the society an international system ?
for different reasons and for different
facilities. Our social life is interdependent International Relations through
and mutual cooperation has a very Foreign Policy : Every nation has policies
important place in it. Just as it is true about its internal dealings, as also about
about individuals and society, it applies its relations with other nations. Such a
to different nations as well. There are policy is called foreign policy. We are
many independent nations in the world going to study India’s foreign policy in
like India. Some exchange and interaction detail in the next chapter.
goes on between them constantly. These
independent States also enter into treaties Let’s do this.
with each other. A system of all these
independent, sovereign States comes up. Collect newspapers for a month
We call it international system. Let us get and take cuttings of news about
to know some features of this international different foreign countries. Classify the
system. news on the basis of the points given
below and put up an exhibition.
Interdependence : All the countries (a) The visits to our country of
of the world are dependent on each other
for one reason or the other. However big, persons holding important positions
prosperous or developed a nation may be, in other nations.
it can never be self-sufficient about all its (b) Treaties signed between our
needs. Even big nations have to depend country and other countries.
upon other big and small nations. Thus, (c) An international conference
interdependence is an important feature of convened in our country.
(d) Events with respect to our
neighbouring countries

57

Background : The world in which Europe collapsed and new nations came
we live today has been shaped through into being.
many events and developments. Hence we
need to go back to history in order to Many European countries had their
understand today’s world. We know that colonies in the continents of Africa and
two world wars were fought in the last Asia. Movements for independence started
century. These were the most important in these colonies. These movements
events in the world in that century. The challenged the hegemony of the European
world completely changed because of nations.
them. New currents of thought emerged.
Let us understand what else happened League of Nations was established
due to these world wars. after the First World War to establish
peace. But it did not succeed at preventing
First World War : The First World war. Autocratic regimes came up in
War was fought between 1914 and 1918. Germany, Italy, Spain and other countries.
Major countries of Europe took part in it. All these developments culminated in the
Europe had a very central place in the Second World War.
international or global system at that time.
The war caused a tremendous loss of life Indian Soldiers on a battlefield in the First World War
and property. The countries which joined
the war suffered tremendous economic Think and Write.
losses. Even the countries which did not join The autocratic dictatorial regime of
the war were impacted by the war. The Hitler came up in Germany. What would
economies of the victorious as well as the have happened had the democratic
losing countries collapsed. traditions been strong in Germany ? What
precautions should we take in order to
Countries involved in the First prevent the rise of autocratic regimes ?
World War
What is your opinion ?
Allied Powers Central Powers The League of Nations was
established to prevent war, but it failed
Britain, France, Germany, Austria- to avoid war. What measures should
Russia, Italy, Hungary, Turkey the League have taken to prevent war ?
America Bulgaria. Second World War : The Second
World War was fought between 1939 and
At the end of the First World War, 1945. It proved to be far more destructive
all the nations felt that such a war should than the First World War. Not only was
not happen again and some measures it more widespread compared to the First
need to be taken to achieve that end. An
international organisation called the
League of Nations was established out of
this thinking. It became an important
platform to solve international disputes
and carry out negotiations. The main
responsibility of the League of Nations
was understood to be to avoid war.

After the First World War, major
changes came about in Europe and outside
Europe. For example, earlier empires in

58

59

World War, but also more advanced that it seemed that a war would erupt any
technology was employed in this war. time. The concept of Cold War is used to
Countries which took part in the Second describe the condition where there is no
World War once again faced a situation actual war, but there are such tensions in
of economic crisis. the circumstances, that they may be
responsible to cause war. In this period,
Let’s write … America was already a super power, but
the Soviet Russia also tried to become a
The Second World War was super power by making nuclear weapons
fought between 1939 and 1945. What and by increasing its military might. The
events were unfolding in India during struggle for power, arms race, differences
this period? in ideologies, attitude of checkmating each
other by strategies and counter-strategies
What was the effect of the Second gave rise to the Cold War.
World War on India ?
Effects of the Cold War
Countries involved in the Second
World War • Creation of Military Organisations : 
During the Cold War, both the super
Allied Powers Britain, France, powers created military organisations.
Australia, Canada, New The respective super powers took up
Zealand, India, Soviet the responsibility of the security of the
Russia, China, America countries joining the military
organisations led by them. NATO
Axis powers Germany, Japan, Italy (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation)
was a military organisation under the
America played a major role in the dominance of America, while the
Second World War. It had manufactured Warsaw Pact was a military
nuclear weapons. In order to end the war, organisation under the command of the
it dropped two nuclear weapons on two Soviet Russia.
cities of Japan - Hiroshima and Nagasaki
- on 6th and 9th August 1945 respectively. What is your opinion ?
The Second World War ended with the * Is there any correlation between the
defeat of Germany in Europe and of Japan
in Asia. Among the many events that took advances in technologies and world
place in the world after the Second World peace ?
War was the beginning of the Cold War. * How can technology be used for
1945 to 1991 is the long period of the human welfare ?
Cold War. Let us take stock of a few
changes in this period. • Bipolarisation of the World : During
the Cold War, most countries of the
Cold War : America and the Soviet world joined either of the two super
Russia, who were allies in the Second power blocs. Such a division of the
World War became competitors as soon nations of the world in two groups is
as the war got over. The cooperation bipolarisation. The scope of the Cold
between them gave way to rivalry. This War increased due to this. The sphere
rivalry occupied a period of 40-45 years of tension spread.
of international politics. There was no
open war between these two countries; but
there was such tension in their relations,

60

Let’s do this ! soon, both the super powers realised
The Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) that the arms race may endanger
international peace. Hence efforts
was an important event in the cold war towards arms control and disarmament
period. Find out more about this event. also happened during this period.

Do you know ? • Creation of Regional Organisations :
Developing nations created regional
The communist revolution took organisations at the regional level in
place in 1917 in Russia and the order to ensure mutual cooperation in
Soviet Russia came into being. In a the context of the super power rivalry.
short while, the Soviet Russia came They felt that economic development
up as a super power in international was more important. European countries
politics. But there were extreme came together and formed the European
difference of opinion between America Economic Community, while the South
and the Soviet Russia. For example, East Asian countries (Singapore,
Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia,
o The U.S.A was a democratic State, Philippines, etc.) established the
advocating capitalism, while the Association of South East Asian Nations
Soviet Russia advocated socialism (ASEAN).
and a one party authoritarian system.
Both the super powers wanted to • Non-alignment : In the period of the
expand their own dominance in the Cold War, while the world was becoming
world. America wanted to spread bipolar, there were some countries
capitalism, while the Soviet Russia which did not want to join the super
wanted to spread socialism. power rivalry. Such nations decided to
stay out of the cold war rivalry. Their
o Both countries started making policy is known as Non-alignment.
efforts to pull smaller countries into Non-alignment was an important
their respective blocs in order to movement during the Cold War.
increase their hegemony. As a
result, Europe was ideologically Non-aligned Movement   : The Asian
divided. Western European countries and African countries, which became
joined the bloc led by America, independent after the Second World War
while Eastern European countries supported the idea of non-alignment. This
joined the bloc led by Soviet movement started from 1961 under the
Russia. These super powers leadership of India’s Prime Minister
espoused the policy of extending Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, President of
military and economic help to the Yugoslavia Marshall Tito, President of
countries in their respective blocs. Egypt Gamal Abdal Nasser, President of
Indonesia Dr Sukarno and President of
• Arms Race : The super powers started Ghana Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
producing arms on a large scale to
outsmart each other. There started a Evaluation of the Non-aligned
rivalry to make more and more Movement : The Non-aligned Movement
destructive weapons and to acquire the has opposed colonialism, imperialism and
technology required for the same. But

61

racism. It has encouraged the resolution and Glasnost (Openness). Due to these
of international disputes by peaceful policies, the control over the media
means. India led this movement under the reduced. Important changes took place in
guidance of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. political and economic spheres. i.e. these
India continued to actively support the spheres were restructured. This gave
movement afterwards as well. Even after impetus to democracy.
the end of the Cold War, the importance
of the movement has not reduced. (3) As the East European countries
under the influence of the Soviet Russia
The non-aligned movement is based adopted the capitalist and democratic
on eternal principles of humanism, global paths, the regimes there changed.
peace and equality. It has inspired the
less developed countries to come together. (4) The Soviet Russia disintegrated
and several new nations were created out
It has encouraged the resolution of of it. Russia was the biggest country in
international disputes by peaceful means. the former Soviet Russia.
While taking a firm stand on disarmament,
fostering human rights, the non-aligned Why so ?
movement put forth the problems of poor,
undeveloped countries firmly. This NATO still exists, but its nature
movement made a demand of a New
International Economic Order (NIEO). is no longer military. Find out the
countries that are members of
Summarising briefly, the significance NATO.
of the non-aligned movement has not
reduced even if the cold war is over. It Suggest a word.
inspired the less developed countries to
come together. It brought several new When there is only one super power
streams of economic and social changes and several countries are dependent
into international politics. It gave these upon it, such an international system is
countries the confidence to assert themselves called a unipolar system. The division
with self-respect in international politics. of nations between two super powers is
called bipolarisation.
End of the Cold War : The Cold
War that had dominated international When many countries emerge as
politics since 1945 came to an end. It super powers in the international system,
was an important event that happened what can that system be called ?
towards the end of the last century. There
were many reasons for the end of the Write an essay on the topic
cold war, as given below : ‘Futility of War’. Some points have
been given below to help you. Discuss
(1) The Soviet Russia adopted the them.
policy of opening up the economy. The
State loosened up its control of the * Any problem can be solved by
economy.
discussion and negotiations.
(2) The then President of the Soviet
Russia Mikhail Gorbachev implemented * Problems cannot be solved by war.
the policies of Perestroika (Restructuring) * War puts a spanner in the wheel

of development.

62

Post-Cold War World open. As been mentioned before, capital,
labour, markets and information began
The Cold War came to an end with circulating globally. The give and take of
ideas among people all over the world
the disintegration of the Soviet Russia, grew. Due to the revolution in information
which till then had been a super power. technology, different events and
As a result, major changes took place in developments began to be known
world politics. For example, everywhere. The boundaries between
America remained the only super power nations did not remain as sacrosanct as
they were before. All these processes are
in world politics. together called globalisation. Just as
A conducive atmosphere prevailed for globalisation has brought us benefits, it
has also caused losses. For example, as
the growth in trade and economic the economies of different countries got
relations between and among nations. linked with each other, trade increased,
Capital, labour, market and information economic unification grew, plenty of
circulated throughout the world. Ideas products became available in the markets;
spread freely as well. but (at the same time) the gap between
As all nations of the world decided to the poor and rich nations did not reduce.
give priority to trade relations, the idea
of giving ‘aid’ to other nations fell In this chapter, we studied the global
behind. Instead, efforts began to be developments from 1945 onwards. We
made to establish economic relations. understood the world in the Cold War period,
The description of a country which was the arms race and the efforts at disarmament.
opposed to another has now changed We also learnt about the meaning of
from ‘enemy nation’ to ‘rival nation.’ Globalisation. In the next chapter, we shall
The responsibility of the United Nations
has increased. The United Nations now study India’s foreign policy.
had to take more concrete steps to
maintain global peace and security. Find out and participate !
Environmental protection, fostering of Find out about any two global
human rights, gender equality and
management of natural calamities now organisations that work for protecting
acquired a global dimension. the environment. If you agree with
their objectives, find out about
What is Globalisation ? : After the opportunities for participation in some
end of the Cold War, trade and economic of the activities.
relations between countries became more

Exercises

1. (A) Choose the correct option from the (2) The main responsibility of the
United Nations -
given options and complete the
(a) to avoid war
statements. (b) independence of colonies
(1) A system of independent and (c) improving the economics of

sovereign States - different nations
(a) Political system (d) disarmament
(b) International system
(c) Social system
(d) None of these

63

(3) The Cold War ended with this event 4. Write brief answers.
(a) Establishment of the United (1) Compare the First World War and

Nations the Second World War with the help
(b) Disintergration of the Soviet of the following points :

Russia Points First Second
(c) Creation of Military World World
1. Period War War
Organisations 2. Involved nations
(d) Cuban Missile Crisis 3. Impacts (Political

2. State whether the following statements and Economic)
are true or false. Give reasons for your 4. International
answer.
Organisations
(1) The League of Nations was established after
established after the First World the War
War.
(2) What were the factors responsible
(2) The world became unipolar due to for the end of Cold War ?
the Cold War.
(3) What major changes occured in
(3) The policies of Mikhail Gorbachev global politics after the end of the
gave an impetus to democratisation. Cold War ?

3. Explain the following concepts.

(1) Cold War (2) Non-alignment

(3) Interdependence (4) Bipolarisation Projects

(5) Globalisation (1) Explain with examples how different
nations in the world are dependent
on each other.

(2) Discuss in your class what you
intend to do to inculcate the idea of
‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ in the
society.

64

2 India’s Foreign Policy

What are we going to learn in this National Interest: We have briefly
chapter ? understood what foreign policy means.
National interest and foreign policy are
We have got introduced to the closely connected to each other. National
international system and its nature and interest is fostered through foreign policy.
the cold war in the last century and its Therefore, before studying foreign policy
effects. We shall now get introduced to further, we need to understand the meaning
other related issues. Thus, we shall learn and significance of national interest.
about the meaning of foreign policy,
factors that make an impact on it and the National interest implies the means
nature of India’s foreign policy. through which the independence and
sovereignty of our country can be
Foreign Policy safeguarded. National interest also includes
efforts to achieve our economic
Meaning and Importance : All development and to take steps towards
countries are members of the international increasing our national power. When
system. We have already studied that decisions are taken after giving a careful
none of these countries is completely self- thought to what is beneficial and good
reliant and hence there is mutual for our country, we say that we are
interdependence in the international nurturing our national interest. In this
system. Only this interdependence should sense, the following factors are included
not be of benefit to a few countries. in the national interest of any country.
Efforts need to be made to ensure that it
benefits every nation. Each country has Defence, i.e. the protection of our
to decide the nations with which it should country’s independence, sovereignty
be friendly, in which bloc it should and integrity is the highest national
participate or what position it should take interest.
in international relations. Such decisions
should be made thoughtfully. The Economic development is also an
theoretical framework in which such
decisions are taken is called foreign important national interest. An
policy. Every sovereign and independent economically weak nation will not be
country decides its own foreign policy. able to maintain its independence.
Hence in the discipline of international Hence economic development is
politics, which studies the international understood to be an important national
relations between nations, foreign policy interest, next only to defence.
has an important place.
National interest and Foreign Policy :
Do you Know ?  Foreign Policy is drawn up to foster the
national interest of defence and economic
When we have to study a country, development. National interest is
it is necessary to understand its considered to be the goal and foreign
Constitution and its foreign policy. policy is considered to be the means to
achieve it. Goals of nations change with
changes in conditions and time.
Accordingly, national interest also changes.

65

These changes are reflected in the foreign by raising questions about the same.
policy. Therefore, foreign policy is always Federal political systems have to
dynamic.
take into account the inclinations of the
Let’s discuss! constituent States while shaping foreign
policy, because the affairs in neighbouring
Even though some changes nations affect constituent States. For
happen in the foreign policy due to example, events in Sri Lanka may affect
changing circumstances and times, Tamil Nadu and those in Bangladesh
foreign policies of some nations are may affect West Bengal and the
based on some eternal principles. North-east Indian States.
For example, India’s foreign policy
is based on values like international Why should this be done?
peace, human rights and security.
What provisions should be included The peace and stability in the
in the foreign policy to achieve neighbouring countries is as important
these values according to you ? as that within our own country.
Hence, India has to take efforts to
Factors influencing Foreign Policy : create democracy in neighbouring
Foreign policy decides what kind of countries.
relations to have with which country in
the international system. But several (3) Economy : In modern times the
factors affect foreign policy while it is economic condition of any country has
being decided. acquired great importance in deciding
foreign policy. As a result, the economy
(1) Geographical Location : You impacts foreign policy in two ways :
must have seen the globe or map of the
world. You can see the geographical (1) Foreigh policy is shaped by the
location of any nation from that. Some need to establish economic relations with
countries are far away from other other countries, import-export, participation
countries, while there are several in world trade, all aimed at strengthening
neighbouring countries around some the economy of the country.
countries. Some nations have a long
coastline, while some have plenty of (2) In today’s world, the issues of
mineral wealth. In sum, the size, economic security are as important as
population, topography, coastline, national security. A country is recognised
availability of natural resources, all these to be powerful in proportion to the
factors need to be considered while economic security is enjoys. Countries
deciding the foreign policy of any country. having a strong economy are less
dependent on others and they can have
(2) Political System : In a democratic an independent foreign policy as well.
political system, the nation’s parliament
plays a major role in evolving foreign (4) National leadership: The
policy. When different aspects come up President, the Prime Minister, the Foreign
for discussion in parliament, the opposition Minister, the Defence Minister, the Finance
parties try to regulate the foreign policy Minister and the Home Minister have a

66

Do you agree ? If yes, why and decisions about foreign policy are taken
if not, why not ? Write in detail. by the Prime Minister and the Minister
for External Affairs, the administrative
In order to increase the economic machinery helps to arrive at that decision.
power of the nation, instead of The administrative officers collect
focusing on alleviation of poverty, information needed to shape the foreign
efforts should be made to increase policy, analyse it and give appropriate
the wealth and the buying capacity advice based on it. The National Security
of the people. Advisor also completes this task.

role in deciding foreign policy. The What will you do ?
persons holding these positions try to
maintain the continuity in foreign policy You are working as Foreign
and to improve upon it. For example, Secretary. The Prime Minister is
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru contributed the going on a visit to China. As Foreign
policy of non-alignment to India’s foreign Secretary from the Ministry of
policy. Prime Minister Atal Bihari External Affairs, what topics will
Vajpayee contributed a great deal to you suggest the Prime Minister for
improving Sino-Indian relations. discussion ?

Complete the list. India’s Foreign Policy :

Complete the list by writing the After taking this preliminary
contribution made by the following information about foreign policy, we shall
leaders. For example, Lal Bahadur now get to know more about India’s
Shastri : Tashkent Agreement foreign policy.

(a) Indira Gandhi : India got independence in 1947 and
from then onwards we started shaping
(b) Rajiv Gandhi : our foreign policy independently. The
Directive Principles of State Policy have
(c) Atal Bihari Vajpayee : laid down guidelines about how to shape
foreign policy. Art. 51 among the
Name the Prime Minister who Directive Principles of State Policy lay
followed these policies? down the broad framework for foreign
policy. According to it, India should give
(a) : Look East priority to safeguard international peace
and security, and resolve our international
(b) : Efforts to increase problems and disputes by peaceful means.
Foreign Direct The objectives of our foreign policy
Investment should be to maintain friendly relations
with other nations and respect
(5) Administrative Factors : Ministry international law. India’s foreign policy
of External Affairs, Foreign Secretary, till now has been developed in this
Embassies in different countries, framework.
Diplomatic officers, etc. are the
administrative factors involved in creating
foreign policy. Even though the final

67

Promote international peace position and gave priority to global peace
and security. and security. Three things influenced
India’s foreign policy in this period.
Art 51 Maintain just and honourable
of the relations between nations. (1) We made an effort to understand
Indian all international events and developments
Constitution Foster respect for independently, without any pressure from
any power. Peace has always been a
international law and treaty central feature of India’s foreign policy.

obligations in the dealings (2) The threats from China and
Pakistan were also taken into account.
of organised people with
(3) One more feature of India’s
one another. foreign policy at this time was the
insistence on self-reliance.
Encourage settlement of
international disputes by In the beginning, India decided to
arbitration. improve relations with countries in Asia.
Efforts were taken to cooperate with
Some more objectives of India’s Asian countries in order to achieve
Foreign Policy are as follows : development and to keep our independence
intact. This concept of regional
* While maintaining friendly relations development later expanded to include
with neighbouring countries, ensure Africa as well. But some Asian-African
that the defence and security of India countries participated in the military pacts
is not affected. Not to compromise led either by America or the Soviet
about the geographical boundaries of Russia. This stopped the process of
the nation. regional development. After this, countries
of Asia and Africa, which did not
* Protect the unity and integrity of the participate in these military pacts supported
country. the concept of Non-alignment. Peace and
freedom became the fundamental principles
* Protect the interests of India’s citizens of Non-aligned policy.
living in other countries. This
responsibility is fulfilled by the Indian In this period, India had to face conflict
embassies there. with neighbouring countries. Wars happened
between India and Pakistan over the
* To establish economic and commercial Kashmir question in 1947-48 and 1965. In
relations with other countries for the third war, that happened in 1971,
achieving economic development of Pakistan broke apart and independent
India. Bangladesh was created.

A review of India’s Foreign Policy :  In the decade of the 1970s, there
We shall take a review of India’s Foreign came about some stability in India’s
Policy in two stages. The period from foreign policy. India had risen as a
independence to 1990 can be considered powerful regional power in South Asia.
as the first stage. Second stage would be By conducting nuclear tests in 1974, India
from 1990 till date.

India’s Foreign Policy : Early Phase

Prime Minister Pandit Nehru shaped
India’s foreign policy in the early period.
He opposed colonialism through India’s
foreign policy. He took an internationalist

68

had also proved her nuclear capability. Second Stage : 1991 till date
From 1980, however, some changes began
to take place. In order to increase * India’s foreign policy became more
cooperation among South Asian countries, comprehensive and dynamic in the
South Asian Association for Regional second stage. In the post-cold war
Cooperation (SAARC) was established. period, the priority no longer remained
India initiated a dialogue to improve to political and military relations.
relations with China. India also started Several other dimensions like economy,
interaction with America for cooperation trade, education and technology got
in the field of security. included in foreign policy. After 1991,
India reduced the government controls
First Stage : 1947-1990 over the economy and adopted the free
market policy. Naturally, there was an
* India adopted the policy of non- increase in trade with neighbouring
alignment in the context of the cold countries. Our share in world trade
war. As a result, priority was given increased. Efforts began to be made to
to maintaining friendly relations with increase the rate of economic growth.
all nations and to taking the help
required for development from different Can you find out ?
countries. Due to the policy of non- * What is the meaning of economic
alignment, India could get aid from
both the super powers. growth rate ?
* Prepare a chart of the economic
* There was a lot of stress on improving/
strengthening India’s defence. The growth rate of India, Nepal and
technology required for this was Bhutan.
imported. Soviet Russia, France and
Germany helped India in this matter. * In the decade after 1990, our relations

In this period, India had to face some with the South Asian countries like
challenges. These included the conflict Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, etc.
with Pakistan, creation of Bangladesh became stronger. Our trade exchange
and conflict with China. with Israel, Japan, China and European
Union increased.
Contribution of Pandit Nehru to
India’s Foreign Policy : * India began to participate in

His stand was that India should organisations at the international and
independently understand the regional levels more than before. For
global or international affairs. example, G-20 and BRICS (Brazil,
Russia, India, China, South Africa).
He followed up with the policy of
peace.

Brics : Logo

69

Let’s do it ! Do you know ?

There are a lot of similarities Nuclear Weapons are extremely
between India and America. For destructive. Hence, it is necessary to

example, both are democracies. Find make consistent efforts so that they are

more such similarities and prepare a never used. Two treaties have been

project on it. made to stop the spread of nuclear

* Our relations with America weapons. (1) Nuclear Non Proliferation
Treaty (NNPT) (2) Comprehensive
strengthened. Mutual trust grew. India’s Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). The
status rose in the international conditions of both these treaties are of
community. benefit to big nuclear powers and they
put unfair restrictions on developing
* India’s nuclear policy is an important countries, hence India has not signed
either of these treaties.
part of India’s foreign policy. You must
have studied the meaning of nuclear
energy and its uses in subjects like

History, Geography or Chemistry.

Having understood the importance of Let’s do it !
nuclear power, India undertook the

nuclear energy programme immediately The number of countries making
after independence. For this we nuclear weapons is growing. Prepare
established the Department of Atomic a statement from your class to stop
Energy and the Indian Atomic Energy the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
Commission. The first Chairman of the Try to get it published in a newspaper.
Indian Atomic Energy Commission was

Dr Homi Bhabha. Even through India is now a country which has
electricity generation was the main nuclear weapons. We have accepted the
purpose behind the programme, it also role of a responsible nuclear power. India
aimed at creating military capability. has been consistently supporting efforts
As a consequence of this, India for disarmament, because it is India’s
conducted her first nuclear tests in 1974. position that there should be peace and
India built nuclear weapons and security in the world.
conducted nuclear tests in 1998. We

have also made missiles carrying Having taken a survey of foreign

nuclear weapons and the Air Force and policy in this way, we are going to study

the Navy have been enabled for carrying India’s defence system.

them.

Exercises

1. Choose the correct option from the (a) enhance military capacity
given options and complete the (b) conduct nuclear tests
statements. (c) to stop the proliferation of

(1) This was the main objective behind nuclear weapons
establishing the Indian Atomic (d) production of atomic energy
Energy Commission -

70

(2) The following is now the objective 4. What is your opinion about the fact
of all the nations of the world - that world peace is threatened due to
nuclear preparedness ?
(a) atomic development
(b) economic development 5. Answer the following questions in brief.
(c) nuclear test (1) On what principles is India’s foreign
(d) security system
policy based ?
(3) The .......... is an important aspect of (2) Who has contributed to improving
India’s foreign policy -
Sino-Indian relations ?
(a) free economic policy (3) Write the objectives of India’s
(b) interdependence
(c) non-alignment foreign policy.
(d) nuclear development 6. Prepare the following concept map.

(4) India conducted nuclear tests in Factors affecting
1974 at - Foreign Policy

(a) Shriharikota Project
(b) Thumba Find some information about the countries
(c) Pokharan
(d) Jaitapur with whom India had trade relations in
ancient times.
2. State whether the following statements
are true or false. Give reasons for your
answer.

(1) Pandit Nehru contributed towards
improving Sino-Indian relations.

(2) Atal Bihari Vajpayee took lead in
improving relations with Pakistan.

3. Explain the following concepts.
(1) India’s Foreign Policy
(2) National Interest
(3) World Peace

71

3 India’s Defence System

Let’s Revise ! responsibility is to be keep the security
systems always well-prepared and ready.
In the last chapter, we studied India’s This is called as National Security.
foreign policy. We have now understood
that the primary national interest of a Can you tell ?
country includes defence from foreign
aggression and internal unrest and keeping Can you tell some examples of
the borders safe. For this, every nation complementary and contradictory
creates a defence system at the national national interests in the context of
level. India has also created such a India and our neighbouring nations
system. In this chapter, we are going to
understand its nature and study the Ways to safeguard National Security
challenges it faces.
National Security is closely connected
What is National Security ? with geography, because national
security is more likely to be endangered
The international system is made up by nations who are geographically
of sovereign nations. Even if they closer. A nation must assess the threat
cooperate with each other, sometimes to its geographical boundaries and the
there are conflicts between these sovereign source of that threat.
nations. There are disputes between
nations over boundaries or sometimes In order to keep this threat at bay,
conflicts emerge between them over water the nation has to increase its military
sharing. Some other reasons for conflict might. The nation has to use modern
could be: not following the terms of technology to predict the threat, to
international treaties, constantly competing build weapon systems and modernise
against each other and influx of refugees and update the defence forces.
from neighbouring countries. Whenever
such a conflict of interests arises between Resolving conflict by taking recourse
nations, it is sought to be resolved by to war in order to safeguard national
compromises and discussions. But when security brings internal peace into
such efforts are not enough to resolve the danger. Hence, some nations try to get
conflict, a nation may even think of war. the support of other nations to manage
When a nation attacks another and the threat to their national security.
challenges the sovereignty of the latter, it
endangers the security of the nation. Such Think and suggest.
challenges are created due to the military All countries are not at par
power of aggressive nations. In any
situation, a nation’s first duty and with respect to military might. In
such a situation, what needs to be
done to implement a policy of arms
control ?

72

Do you agree ? Chief of the Air Force is known as Air
Chief Marshall. In order to maintain the
Nations enter into arms races with coordination between the three defence
others in an effort to increase their forces, post of 'Chief of Defence Staff' is
military might. Arms race leads to created in 2019. These chiefs are appointed
further increase the sense of insecurity. by the President.
This sense of insecurity further increases
the threats to National Security. In The Army
order to avoid these dangers, we need
arms control, not an arms race. The Navy

Read the following passage and The Air Force
answer the questions that follow:
Find out so as to understand more…
Every nation should try to resolve What is a military regime? Does
international conflicts peacefully and
by means of negotiations. For that, the democracy exist in such regimes?
dialogue and exchange between nations
should increase. The more the
interdependence between nations, more
will peace and security be strengthened.
Because of this, different platforms and
mediums will be available for
discussions and negotiations for the
purpose of increasing international
cooperation. Nations will try to avoid
wars out of fear of economic losses.

1. What message do you get from
the above passage ?

2. How will the dialogue between
nations increase ?

3. What is the relationship between
economic losses and war ?

India’s Security System : India’s The President of India is the supreme
security system includes the Army, the commander of the defence forces. The
Navy and the Air Force, the three forces defence forces cannot take any decisions
that defend the country. The responsibility about war or peace without the consent of
of protecting the geographical boundaries the President, because the latter represents
is on the Army, whereas the Navy protects the civil power. In a democracy civil
the coastline. The Air Force is in charge leadership is considered superior to military
of protecting India’s air space. The leadership.
Ministry of Defence controls all the three
forces. The Indian Army is very big. It Many measures are taken so that all
is the world’s seventh largest. Its Chief three defence forces in India’s security
is known as the General. The Chief of system are adequately modernised. For
Navy is known as the Admiral, while the this, some research institutions have been

73

set up. Many training institutes have also to maintain law and order.
been set up in our country to train the
personnel of all ranks of our defence The Rapid Action Force performs the
forces, so that they can perform their task task of bringing people’s lives to normalcy
competently. For example, the National by moving in quickly in incidents of
Defence Academy (NDA) at Pune and threat to National Security such as bomb
the National Defence College (NDC) at blasts or riots.
Delhi, etc.
The National Cadet Corps (NCC) has
Paramilitary Forces : There are been established with the purpose of
Paramilitary Forces to help the defence instilling among students the love of
forces in India. They are neither completely discipline and military training. Boy and
military forces nor completely civil forces. girl students from schools and colleges
Hence, they are called paramilitary forces. can join the NCC.
Their main task is to help the defence
forces. The Border Security Force, Coast Home Guards : This organisation
Guard, Central Reserve Police Force, was established in the pre-independence
Rapid Action Force are some of the period. Citizens can join the Home Guard
paramilitary forces. and assist in the defence of the country.
Any citizen, man or woman, between the
The paramilitary forces are responsible ages of 20 to 35 years can join the Home
for the security of important locations like Guards.
railway stations, oil depots, water
reserves, etc. This force has the following tasks :
Maintain public security, supply of milk,
Similarly, they play a role in water and other essential services during
management of disasters, whether natural riots or strikes, to regulate traffic, to help
or man-made. The responsibility of people at the time of natural disasters
protecting the country’s international like floods, earthquakes, etc.
borders during peace time also rests with
the paramilitary forces. Challenges to India’s security

The Border Security Force performs Right from the time of independence,
tasks like creating a sense of security in Pakistan and China have tried to
the minds of people living in areas near threaten India’s National Security.
the border, preventing smuggling, There are several disputes between
patrolling the border, etc. India and Pakistan. For example, the
Kashmir issue, disputes over river
The Coast Guard has been created to water sharing, the problem of
protect India’s oceanic borders. The Coast infiltrations, dispute over the border,
Guard carries out tasks like protecting the etc. India has continually tried to
fishing occupation within Indian maritime solve these issues through discussion
borders, preventing smuggling along sea and negotiations. (You will study
routes, etc. Indo-Pakistan relations in chapter 6.)

The Central Reserve Police Force India and China are important
helps the administration in various States countries in Asia. In 1962, we have
had to go to a war with China. As
China is trying to establish its own

74

hegemony over countries that are Challenges to Human Security
India’s neighbours, there are tensions
in Sino-Indian relations. There is also (1) The biggest challenge to human
a dispute between India and China security is that of terrorism. Terrorism
over their borders. targets common, innocent people. It aims
at creating terror or fear in their minds,
India’s security is not only threatened so that they begin to feel insecure. Thus,
by outside powers, but also from in order to protect human security, it is
within. It is not just the difference necessary to put an end to terrorism.
between external security and internal
security that is important anymore. Discuss.
Religion, regionalism, several Do you think that only a democratic
rebellious movements based on
ideology, race-ethnicity and economic form of government can maintain
inequality are creating instability. For human security ? 
example, the Naxalite movement is a
threat to India’s internal security. Which points will you present in a
discussion ?
Terrorism is the biggest challenge to
India’s internal security. It is a global What efforts could be made at the
problem and India is making efforts level of the family for ensuring
to end terrorism. human security ?

Human Security (2) Pollution and other changes in the
environment have threatened human life.
In the post-Cold war period, the Diseases like AIDS, chikungunia, swine
concept of national security changed and flu, ebola, corona have presented a big
became broader. National Security is not challenge. Protecting human beings from
just the security of the country but also such diseases is also considered as a
of the people living in it, because security factor of human security.
is ultimately for the people. Hence, human
security refers to human-centric thinking. What do you think ?
In human security, it is expected that
human beings should be protected from Increasing violence in society is
all sorts of dangers and they should be endangering human security. What
given the opportunities of education, kind of peace processes should be
health and development. created so as to prevent violence
from growing ?
The concept of human security also
includes the idea that a conducive In this chapter, we have studied
environment should be created for India’s defence system. We have also
everybody to live a respectable life by tried to understand the change in the
overcoming illiteracy, poverty, superstition, concept of security from national security
backwardness, etc. human security to human security.
necessitates the protection of the rights of
minorities and weaker sections. In the next chapter, we shall study
the United Nations, an international
organisation. We shall understand what
efforts it makes to ensure human security.

75

Exercises

1. Choose the correct option from the 4. Answer the following questions in brief.
given options and complete the (1) What are the threats to national
statements.
security ?
(1) The ............ of India is the (2) Write the functions of the Border
Commander-in-Chief of all the
Defence Forces. Security Force.

(a) Prime Minister 5. Complete the activity as per the given
(b) President instructions.
(c) Defence Minister (1) Complete the table about security
(d) Governor
forces.
(2) The ................. has the responsibility
of protecting the coastline. Name Functions Chief Name
of the of the
(a) Army Security Present
(b) Coast Guard Force Chief
(c) Border Security Force
(d) Rapid Action Force Army

(3) The ................. has been established Admiral
with the purpose of instilling among
students the love of discipline and Protection
military training. of India’s
air space
(a) Border Securty Force (BSF)
(b) Central Reserve Police Force Challenges in
front of India’s
(CRPF) Security system
(c) National Cadet Core (NCC)
(d) Rapid Action Force (RAF) Project
Arrange a Seminar in your school on
2. State whether the following statements
are true or false. Give reasons for your ‘the Challenges in front of India’s
answer. Security’.

(1) It is necessary to end terrorism to
ensure human security.

(2) Every nation creates a strong security
system for itself.

(3) There are no issues of dispute
between India and Pakistan.

3. Explain the following concepts.
(1) The functions of the Rapid Action

Force
(2) Human Security
(3) Home Guard

76

4 The United Nations (UN)

What are we going to learn in this establish an international organisation
chapter? The United Nations, an was prepared. At San Francisco in
international organisation was established America, representatives of fifty countries
to ensure peace and security at the drafted the Charter of the United Nations
international level. In the present chapter, after discussions. As soon as the war got
we shall study its objectives, principles, over, the Charter was signed on 24th
structure and role in securing peace. October 1945 and the United Nations was
established. The United Nations is an
The United Nations: A Background international organisation of sovereign
nations.
Two world wars were fought at the
start of the twentieth century. Life and Can you tell ?
property were destroyed on a large scale
in these wars. As a result, the League of Did India participate in the
Nations was established after the First conferences during the Second
World War and the United Nations was World War ?
established after the Second World War
out of a realisation that there has to be Which day is celebrated as United
a mechanism to establish world peace. Nations day ?
The League of Nations did not succeed
at all. But after the use of the nuclear The Objectives of the United Nations
weapons in the Second World War, the
idea took root that such destructive wars The United Nations is the world’s
should be stopped and that it is the largest international organisation. In the
collective responsibility of all nations to beginning, only 50 countries were members
do so. The United Nations was established of the United Nations. Today, this number
after the Second World War to instill this has gone up to 193. All these member
understanding among all nations. nations come together on the platform of
the United Nations. The United Nations
Chronology of the establishment of has its own definite objectives. Briefly,
the United Nations the United Nations takes up all necessary
measures for establishing international
The Atlantic Treaty was signed peace.
between Prime Minister of England Sir
Winston Churchill and American President To establish friendly relations among
Franklin D Roosevelt during the Second nations.
World War on 14th August 1941. According
to this treaty, a decision was taken to set To enhance international security by
up a permanent mechanism to establish solving international disputes.
international security after the Second
World War was over. Detailed discussions To safeguard and foster human rights
followed on this decision in two and freedom.
conferences among allied powers in 1944
and 1945 and a draft of the treaty to Along with these, the United Nations
also aim at enhancing economic
cooperation at the international level.

77

All member countries are bound by Can you answer the following
duty to respect the diplomatic privileges questions ?
of sovereign nations, not to attack other
countries and abide by international law Can the United Nations intervene
and treaties. militarily if there is a serious
threat to international peace ?
The United Nations is an organisation
created by the coming together of What steps have the United Nations
sovereign nations. Naturally, it is based taken to foster human rights and
on certain principles or rules. They are freedom ?
briefly stated as follows :
Structure of the United Nations :
Principles of United Nations The United Nations Charter describes the
structure and functioning of the
1. All member nations will have the organisation :
same status. There is no discrimination
among nations based on geographical The United Nations has six main
size, economic or military power. organs:

2. All member nations of the United (1) General Assembly (2) Security
Nations should respect the freedom Council (3) Economic and Social Council
and geographical unity of other (4) International Court of Justice
member nations. (5) Trusteeship Council (6) Secretariat

3. All member nations should solve their
international disputes and mutual
differences by peaceful means.

United Nations-General Assembly
78

Apart from these six major organs, The headquarters of the United
there are many affiliated organisations Nations are at New York. English,
of the United Nations that help it in French, Russian, Spanish, Chinese and
its functions. They are called specialised Arabic are the official languages of
agencies. Working in specific areas, the United Nations.
they help different nations in those
areas. The following are some of these Security Council : There are 15
important agencies  : International members in the Security Council. Of
Labour Organisation (ILO), Food and them, five are permanent members, while
Agriculture Organisation (FAO), World ten are non-permanent members. The non-
Health Organisation (WHO), World permanent members are chosen every two
Bank (WB), International Monetary years by the General Assembly. America,
Fund (IMF), United Nations Children’s Russia, England, France and China are
Fund (UNICEF), United Nations permanent members of the Security
Educational Scientific and Cultural Council. They have the veto power. For
Organisation (UNESCO). any decision to be taken, the assent of
all five permanent members and four
General Assembly : All the member non-permanent members is necessary. If
countries are members of the General even one of the five permanent member
Assembly. The position and status of all uses his veto i.e. gives a negative vote,
the countries, whether they are rich or the decision cannot be taken.
poor, big or small, is the same. Every year
the General Assembly meets in its session Functions of the Security Council
from September to December. During the
session, the General Assembly discusses (1) The main responsibility of the Security
important issues like environment, Council is to maintain international
disarmament, etc. The decisions in the peace and security. The Security
General Assembly are taken by majority. Council may suggest one among the
These decisions are in the form of following alternatives in situations of
resolutions. Thus, the General Assembly international conflict : end / resolve
only passes resolutions; it does not make conflict and make efforts to establish
laws. The significance of the General peace, impose economic sanctions or
Assembly lies in being a platform for take a decision of military action
representatives of member nations to come against the aggressor nation.
together and discuss and make policy
decisions on issues of global importance. (2) To prepare policies for arms control

Functions of General Assembly (3) To play a joint role along with the
General Assembly in the appointments
(1) To elect the non-permanent of the judges of the International
members of the Security Council Court of Justice and of the United
Nations Secretary General.
(2) To choose the United Nations
Secretary General and the judges of the Suggestions are being made to reform
International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Security Council and make it more
consultation with the Security Council democratic. India is making efforts to get
the permanent membership of the Security
(3) To pass the annual budget of the Council.
United Nations

79

Economic and Social Council : The Secretary General. He is selected by the
main objective of this organisation is to General Assembly and the Security
coordinate the economic and social policies Council. His tenure is of five years.
of the United Nations. The Council has
54 members. They are selected by the Functions
General Assembly. Each member has a
tenure of three years and each year, one- (1) To call international conferences
third of the members are newly chosen. on global problems like climate change,
Decisions are taken by majority vote. human rights, disarmament, etc.

Functions (2) To organise the meetings of the
General Assembly and Security Council
(1) Initiate discussions at the global level
on issues like poverty, unemployment, (3) To compile information
economic and social inequality and
suggest policies to tackle these (4) To supply information to the
problems. media

(2) Discuss issues like women’s questions, International Court of Justice :
empowerment of women, human International Court of Justice means the
rights, fundamental freedoms, global judicial branch of the United Nations. The
trade, health related issues, etc. and International Court of Justice is located
make decisions. at The Hague in the Netherlands. There
are 15 judges in the International Court
(3) Make efforts to establish cultural and of Justice. They are chosen by the General
educational cooperation at the Assembly and the Security Council. Every
international level. judge has tenure of nine years.

(4) Coordinate the functioning of the Functions
different organisations working in
association with the United Nations. (1) To settle the disputes between two or
more member nations of the United
Secretariat : The Secretariat has the Nations.
responsibility of carrying out the
administrative tasks of the United Nations. (2) To interpret international law
The chief of the Secretariat is the authentically.

Let’s write ! (3) To advise the various organs or
* Write the names of United Nations subsidiary bodies of the United
Nations about legal issues.
Secretory Generals till now.
* Is it necessary that the Secretary International Criminal Court :
The International Criminal Court is an
General should be a citizen of one inter-governmental organisation and
of the great powers/the big five ? an international tribunal. Its
* Are citizens of a particular country headquarters are at The Hague in the
given priority for being Secretary Netherlands. The International Criminal
General ? Court has the jurisdiction to prosecute
* Who is the current Secretory General individuals for international crimes of
and which country does he belong genocide, crimes against humanity and
to ? war crimes that are of concern to the
international community.

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The Trusteeship Council : After the UNICEF is an affiliated
Second World War, the territories that organisation of the United Nations. It
were undeveloped were placed under the works towards making nutritious food
responsibility of the developed nations. and health care available to children.
The latter were supposed to help bring Several workshops were organised in
about the development of the trust India to find out measures to overcome
territories and once they attain malnutrition among babies and
independence from their colonies, help children.
establish democracy. The work of the
Trusteeship Council is over as there are UNESCO, another affiliated
no trust territories left. organisation of the United Nations
works towards peace and security in
The work of the Trusteeship the world by promoting cooperation
Council ended when Palau got between member countries in the fields
independence on 1st November 1994. of education, science and culture.
Palau is an island in the Pacific
ocean, 500 m. east of Philippines. United Nations and preservation
of peace
Millennium Development Goals
The objective of the United Nations
The United Nations member nations is to settle international conflict peacefully.
came together in 2000 and decided upon The United Nations Charter lays down
the development goals for the new the ways and means to be employed to
millennium. Some of the important goals achieve this goal. It includes appointing
are as follows : an intermediary acceptable to the nations
involved in the conflict, use the legal
To eliminate poverty and hunger procedure, appoint an arbitrator to solve
the dispute and if needed, to take recourse
To make the facilities of primary to military means and ensure that conflict
education available will not occur again. In modern times,
human security has been threatened by
To bring about women’s empowerment, terrorism, racist and religious conflict. As
reduce infant mortality rate a result, the function of securing peace of
the United Nations has acquired a lot of
To take special care of the health of importance.
pregnant women
The United Nations makes efforts to
To fight diseases like AIDS, malaria, ensure that violence does not erupt in
etc. strife-torn areas and normalcy is restored
as soon as possible by, for example,
To protect the environment and increase starting schools, creating awareness among
the cooperation between developed and the people about human rights, make
developing countries social, economic, political facilities
available, conduct elections, etc.
A time period has been decided to
achieve these goals.

India has made considerable progress
in the direction of achieving the millennium
development goals with the help of
UNICEF and UNESCO.

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* Find out about the campaigns run establishing peace. The United Nations
takes up peacekeeping as one of the tasks
by the United Nations to establish for safeguarding and fostering peace in
peace in countries like Yugoslavia, the world. Following things are other
Namibia, Cambodia, Somalia, Haiti, actions the United Nations may take
Thailand, etc. supplementary to peacekeeping activities :

* Make a list of names of member * Prevention of conflict and mediation
* Actually establish peace
countries, which are at the forefront * Implement the measures of protecting
in sending their troops for the United
Nations peacekeeping forces. peace

Indian Peacekeeping Forces * Peace-building

United Nations Peacekeeping : The The United Nations and India
peacekeeping activity of the United
Nations involves creating appropriate India had participated in the different
circumstances favourable for bringing Conferences that were held before the
about permanent peace in strife-torn areas. establishment of the United Nations. India
The peacekeeping forces help these areas has participated in bringing issues like
to progress towards peace. In conflict- decolonisation, disarmament, racial
ridden areas, security is provided and at segregation on the United Nations
the same time, help is extended for platform.

In 1946, India was the first country
to raise the question of racism in the
United Nations. India has always led the
discussions about the problems of
undeveloped and developing countries.
India has always sent her troops to
participate in the United Nations
peacekeeping forces. Not just that, India
has sent an all-woman peacekeeping force
as well. It is evident from the foregoing
analysis that India makes serious efforts
to solve international conflicts by peaceful
means.

Exercises

1. Choose the correct option from the (2) This international organisation
given options and complete the conducts workshops in India on
statements. remedial measures to tackle the
problem of malnutrition among
(1) This country is not a permanent children -
member of United Nations Security
Council - (a) UNICEF (b) UNESCO

(a) America (b) Russia (c) Trusteeship Council
(c) Germany (d) China
(d) Redcross

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(3) The number of members of the (2) Show the chronology of the
United Nations - establishment of the United Nations.

(a) 190 (b) 193 1941 1944 1945

(c) 198 (d) 199

2. State whether the following statements (3) Complete the following tree diagram
are true or false. Give reasons for your about the United Nations.
answer. United Nations

(1) The United Nations General Headquarters
Assembly is a platform to discuss
global problems. Major Affiliated
Organs Organisations
(2) The status of all the member nations
of the United Nations is not equal.

(3) A resolution can be passed even if
China exercises its veto power.

(4) India has played a major role in the
work of the United Nations.

3. Explain the following concepts. Projects
(1) Veto
(2) UNICEF (1) Compile some information about the
projects implemented by the United
4. Answer in brief. Nations for the development of
Children and Women.
(1) Write the reasons for the
establishment of the United Nations. (2) Collect some information about the
World Health Organisation.
(2) What is the role of the Peacekeeping
Forces of the United Nations.

(3) Write the objectives of the United
Nations.

5. Complete the following activity as per
the given instructions.
(1) Complete the following chart giving

information about the organs of the
United Nations.

No. Organ Number of Functions
members

1. United Nations
General
Assembly

2. United Nations
Security
Council

3. International
Court of
Justice

4. Economic and
Social Council

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5 India and other Countries

Let’s revise ! Let’s find out...
* With help of the map of South Asia
In the last chapter, we studied the
United Nations and got to know about its given below, find out India’s
role in peacekeeping. We also got to neighbours, with whom India shares
know that India has always helped the her boundaries.
United Nations in this task. In this * Find out which other of our
chapter, we shall take a critical review neighbouring countries share
of India’s relations with neighbouring boundaries with each other.
countries. We will also understand India’s
relations with some faraway nations. India and her Neighbours

India’s position in Asia is
geographically and politically important.

India and other Countries
84

Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the creation of Bangladesh, it also had
Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan, the dimension of the Kashmir problem
China, Maldives are India’s neighbours. to it. The Shimla Agreement in1972
The values of equality and mutual respect provided a new format to the interaction
have a great importance in India’s foreign between India and Pakistan. In 1999,
policy. India has established relations there was a conflict between India and
with neighbouring countries on the basis Pakistan over the infiltration by Pakistan
of these values. India is the biggest in the Kargil region. Even today the
country in the Indian subcontinent. Kashmir question is the basic cause of
Similarly, India is economically and conflict between the two countries. The
technologically more advanced. It is thus nature of the conflict has changed and
natural that India has a great influence this new type of conflict can be described
among the South Asian countries. as terrorism.

India and Pakistan Both India and Pakistan conducted
nuclear tests in 1998 and that gave rise
In 1947 India was partitioned and to new concerns in this region. Many
two independent countries, India and countries feel that these two nations
Pakistan, were created. should not get locked in nuclear conflict.
One more issue in Indo-Pak relations is
India-Pakistan : Indo-Pak relations the border dispute in Sir Creek area.
are influenced by three main factors :
Both countries have made efforts to
(1) Differences in the world views of establish a dialogue with each other; but
both the countries considering the way in which Pakistan is
supporting terrorists against India and is
(2) the Kashmir question and engineering terrorist activities in India, all
efforts at establishing dialogue are proving
(3) Nuclear rivalry between the two to be unsuccessful.
countries
India-China : The conflict between
India and Pakistan have totally India and China is connected to two
different world views. In line with the issues : (1) Border issue and (2) Status of
Indian world view, India opposed the Tibet
military alliances of the Cold War and
tried to solve the Indo-Pak conflict The Border dispute between India
bilaterally. The Shimla Agreement of and China is related to Aksai Chin area
1972 was based on this principle. On the and the Macmahon line. China claims
other hand, Pakistan tried to maintain that the area south of Aksai Chin and
relations with the Islamic world and Macmahon line (Arunachal Pradesh) is
China and entered into a military Chinese Territory. China is not willing to
agreement with America. agree that Macmahon Line is an
international border. India made several
Pakistan considers Kashmir as the efforts to sort this border dispute by
biggest hurdle in establishing relations means of dialogue. But it has not met
with India. The first Indo-Pak war took with much success. In 1962 China
place in 1965 over Kashmir. The attacked India.
Tashkent Agreement was signed in
1966, but nothing much came out of it.
Even though the 1971 war was about

85

Tibet was traditionally autonomous. and technology and build schools, health
But when China was stepping up its facilities and irrigation projects.
military control in Tibet, Dalai Lama
took asylum in India. This issue has been Bangladesh : Today’s Bangladesh is
responsible for the conflict between the the erstwhile East Pakistan. When Pakistan
two countries. was created, it had two parts : West and
East Pakistan. There was linguistic
The threat to India’s security is difference between them. There were other
increasing due to the friendship between political conflicts as well. The movement
China and Pakistan, supply of weapons to liberate Bangladesh emerged out of
from China to Pakistan and also transfer this. This movement tried to free
of missile and nuclear weapons technology. Bangladesh from the dominance of West
The increasing friendship between China Pakistan. India helped Bangladesh in its
and Pakistan and increasing influence of freedom struggle. Bangladesh was formed
China over India’s other neighbours is a in 1971. Some treaties were signed
cause of concern for India. Even then, between India and Bangladesh about
India has always made efforts to improve sharing river waters and some regarding
relations with China. A joint executive the shared border, which put an end to
group has been set up to solve the Sino- the conflict between them. Now trade
Indian border dispute. When the rate of relations between the two countries are
economic growth of both India and China growing.
increased, the trade relations between both
the countries began to get strengthened. Sri Lanka : India has friendly
Because of improvement in economic and relations with the southern neighbour Sri
trade relations between India and China Lanka. Political instability in Sri Lanka
and a series of tripartite talks between after 1985 was a result of the differences
Russia, China and India, Sino-Indian between the Tamils and the Sri Lankan
relations are improving slowly. Even Government. At that time India had sent
though the border dispute is not completely a peacekeeping force to help the Sri
resolved, it has taken a back seat and Lankan government. Friendly relations
relations in other areas have become more with Sri Lanka are important from the
important. point of view of security in the Indian
Ocean.
India and other neighbours
Nepal : Nepal and Bhutan are
Afghanistan : There is a lot of landlocked countries surrounded by
political instability in Afghanistan. The mountainous terrain. Their boundaries are
dominance of the terrorist organisation linked with India and China. The
Taliban is responsible for this. India has foundation of friendship between India
extended help to bring peace, security and and Nepal was laid with Indo-Nepalese
stability, curb violence and establish a Friendship Treaty in 1950. According to
democratic government. Similarly, India this treaty, Nepalese citizens can not only
is also helping Afghanistan in enter India, but they are also permitted
reestablishing communication facilities to take up government jobs and carry on
that have got destroyed due to war, build trade in India. The year 1990 marked the
roads, cooperate in the fields of science beginning of Nepal’s transition to
democracy. Nepal is dependent upon

86

India for economic progress, basic region. India will be able to import
facilities, food related needs, trade and natural gas from Myanmar.
energy needs. India sent a lot of help to
Nepal at the time of the 2015 earthquake. Maldives : India’s relations with
Maldives have been friendly right from
Bhutan : India bears the responsibility the beginning. This small nation to the
of the defence of Bhutan. Bhutan has a South of India is dependent on India for
huge source of water. India has cooperated a lot of reasons. Trade relations have
in the project to produce hydel power on been established between the two since
a large scale using this source. 1981. India has helped Maldives in the
development of basic facilities or
Myanmar : Myanmar is India’s door infrastructure, health and communication.
to the South East Asian countries. South From 2006 onwards, cooperation in the
Asia, Middle Asia and South East Asia military field also started between the two
will be connected with each other with countries. They have entered into treaties
the rail and roadways that are being with respect to cooperation in space
developed in this area. This will help research, conservation of historical objects
increase trade and other exchange in this and tourism. Similarly they have decided
to cooperate in the area of fighting
Do you know ? against terrorism.

Myanmar and Aung Sang Su Kyi : India and America
Aung Sang Su Kyi is credited with
having established democracy in India and America are two powerful
Myanmar after a long drawn struggle nations who have democratic political
against the military regime there. She systems. Right from the beginning,
has been awarded the Nobel Peace America was India’s most important
Prize. trading partner. Many Indians went to

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation :

SAARC is a regional organisation established by
the South Asian countries in 1985. The aim of this
organisation is to encourage economic cooperation
between South Asian nations and thereby achieve the
development of the South Asian region. The organisation
of SAARC is a platform for South Asian countries to
come together and discuss common questions and
interests. Some common interests of South Asian countries
are alleviation of poverty, development of agriculture and technological revolution.
Some treaties were signed on the SAARC platform to make it easy for South Asian
countries to trade with each other. As a part of this, it has been decided that South
Asia should be made into a free trade area. For an equitable development of South
Asian nations, a treaty about forming South Asian Free Trade Area was signed
and South Asian University was established.

* What was the purpose behind establishing the organisation SAARC ? * How
many member nations are there in SAARC today ? * What are the common interests
of South Asian Countries ?

87

America for education or work. Due to and Russia of today have always shared
the presence of these non-resident Indians, friendly relations. In 1971, the Indo-Soviet
the cultural, social and economic relations Treaty of friendship and cooperation was
between America and India have been signed between them and it gave great
increasing. After the end of cold war, the impetus to cooperation between the two
military relations between India and countries in defence and technology. The
America have increased on a large scale. Soviet Russia has also given economic
After India accepted free market economy, and military help to India on a large
the speed of economic progress slowly scale.
increased. It resulted in further
strengthening the trade relations between When the Soviet Russia collapsed,
India and America. India tried to establish relations with
Russia. Due to the political and economic
When India conducted nuclear tests problems in Russia, relations did not
in 1998, there was tension in the relations improve much. After 1996, Indo-Russian
between the two countries. Many rounds relations began to improve slowly. India
of discussions took place after that to and Russia have jointly built projects
improve the relations. Through these related to production of military equipment,
rounds of talks, America came to believe production of mineral oil, etc.
that India will use its nuclear weapons
with responsibility. This completely India and European Nations
transformed the Indo-American relations.
The Civil Nuclear Agreement signed in There are trade relations between
2005 that was approved by the U.S. European nations and India. Especially
Congress in 2008 was an important Germany and France invest on a large
landmark in Indo-American relations. In scale in the field of technology in India.
the last five years, cordial relations of Apart from this India gets the technology
cooperation in different areas have of production of weapons from European
developed between India and America. nations. India is a major exporter in the
fields of engineering and information
Do you know ? technology. Both have the objective of
firmness on free trade. India and European
In 2005, the India-U.S. Civil- nations are cooperating in other areas as
Nuclear Agreement was signed by Dr. well. Several treaties have been signed in
Manmohan Singh, the then Prime the fields of climate change, clean energy,
Minister of India and George W. Bush defence production, disaster management,
Jr. the then American President. In security of air space and terrorism. This
2008 the International Atomic Energy cooperation is very important from the
Agency (IAEA) gave its approval to point of view of India’s development.
the deal. Because of this deal, it
became possible for India to get nuclear Let’s find out ...
technology from other countries as well.
* When was the European Union
India and Russia established ?

India and the erstwhile Soviet Russia * Find out more about the European
market and European currency.

88

India and the Continent of Africa Joint naval exercises are carried out
between the navies and coast guards of
India has consciously taken steps to both the countries.
build cooperation between India and the
continent of Africa. Having close relations India and South East Asia
with Africa will be beneficial from the
point of view of both. Many countries in India has had very cordial relations
Africa are developing rapidly. India has
shown its readiness to help in the all- with South-east Asian nations like
round development of African youth.
India has also agreed to give economic Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore,
help and even grants to bring about
development in different areas like Philippines, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam,
technology, agriculture, tourism, etc.
India’s energy needs can be fulfilled by Laos, Cambodia and Brunei. After 1991
the energy rich countries like Egypt,
Nigeria, Angola and Sudan. India is India changed its economic policy and
making efforts to increase trade with
Africa. adopted a free market economy. After

The Summit Conference of India and that, the trade relations with South-east
Africa was held in 2015 and the
representatives from all 54 African nations Asian nations have grown. The policy of
attended it. In this conference, discussions
were held on many global issues, for increasing trade with South-east Asian
example, climate change, terrorism, piracy,
etc. nations is known as the ‘Look East’

India and the Indo-Pacific area policy. After 2014, this policy was made

The Indo-Pacific area includes further more active. It is nowadays known
countries like Japan, Australia, New
Zealand and the South-east Asian nations. as the ‘Act East’ policy.
All of these have close trade relations
with India. Many companies there have India and West Asia : The West
invested in India. Treaties have been Asian countries are primarily suppliers of
signed between India and Australia about mineral oil and natural gas. India has
social security, extradition of criminals, traditionally had relations with these
the mission against smuggling of drugs, countries. India depends upon the mineral
terrorism, art and culture. Japan cooperates oil coming in from west Asia. India
with India in basic facilities, economic imports mineral oil from Iran, Iraq,
cooperation, information technology, Baharein, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and
atomic energy and railways. Japan has United Arab Emirates. We get modern
agreed to extend cooperation and technology for agriculture and defence
technological help to India in the equipment from Israel. Also, many Indians
development and security of coastal areas. live in Israel for their jobs or businesses.
They also make a major contribution to
our economy.

The main objective of India’s foreign
policy is to maintain friendly relations
with all nations and help each other so
as to bring about development of India
as well as other nations.

We have taken stock of India’s
relations with the main countries in the
world. In the next chapter, we shall study
some important international or global
issues.

89

Exercises

1. Choose the correct option from the 4. Explain the following concepts.
given options and complete the (1) Shimla Agreement
statements. (2) Indo-Nepalese friendship treaty
(3) Macmahon Line
(1) The country that has a free (4) Indo-Afghanistan Relations
international border with India -
5. Answer in brief.
(a) Pakistan (b) Bangladesh (1) Explain the background of
(c) Nepal (d) Myanmar
cooperative relations between India
(2) The countries that have tensed and America.
relations with India - (2) Give some information about the
efforts taken by India for the
(a) Pakistan and China. establishment of democracy in
neighbouring countries with
(b) Nepal and Bhutan examples.
(3) What is the role of South Asian
(c) Myanmar and Maldives Association for Regional
Cooperation ?
(d) Afghanistan and America.
  Projects
(3) Factors that have an influence on
the relations between India and (1) Obtain some information about the
Pakistan - foreign tours of the President and
the Prime Minister.
(a) Difference in the world view of
both the countries. (2) Find out about ‘Youth Exchange’
programmes of different countries.
(b) Kashmir issue

(c) Nuclear Rivalry
(d) All of the above

2. State whether the following statements
are true or false. Give reasons for your
answer.

(1) India has an important position
among the South Asian countries.

(2) Sino-Indian relations are friendly.
(3) India sent a peacekeeping force to

help the Sri Lankan government.

3. Complete the following chart.

No. Treatise/Exchanges Countries

1. India-Pak

2. Macmahon Line

3. India-
Bangladesh

4. Import of
natural gas

5. India-America

6. Infrastructure
development,
communication,
health

7. India-Africa

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