Political Science · India's Foreign Policy
UGC NET 2023 Political Science
Which among the following statements are true about the rise of alternative perspectives on Indian foreign policy?
- 1. In the mid 1960s, the Swatantra Party presented a classical conservative perspective on foreign policy.
- 2. It was led by I.K. Gujral.
- 3. The supporters were drawn from former bureaucrats, business community and members of princely families.
- 4. They united in their opposition to Nehru's Fabian economics.
- 5. They believed in the forces of the market and private enterprises.
A1, 2, 3 and 4 only
B1, 3, 4 and 5 only ✓ Correct
C2, 3, 4 and 5 only
D1, 2, 4 and 5 only
Correct answer: (B) 1, 3, 4 and 5 only — Statements 1, 3, 4 and 5 are true, so the answer is 1, 3, 4 and 5 only.
Explanation
★Statements 1, 3, 4 and 5 are true, so the answer is 1, 3, 4 and 5 only.
★The Swatantra Party, founded in 1959 by C. Rajagopalachari, offered a conservative alternative to the Nehruvian consensus.
★By the mid 1960s it articulated a classical conservative line on both domestic and foreign policy, validating statement 1.
★Its base lay among former bureaucrats, the business community and princely families dissatisfied with Congress, validating statement 3.
★It opposed Nehru's Fabian socialist economics and championed free markets and private enterprise, validating statements 4 and 5.
★Statement 2 is wrong because the party was led by C. Rajagopalachari, not I.K. Gujral.
★This conservative-realist strand, alongside a Hindutva viewpoint, became an early challenge to the Nehruvian mainstream.
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