Q.Who among the following was the first Prime Minster to start economic reforms in India ?

Understanding the sequence of historical events is crucial for grasping cause-and-effect relationships and the evolution of political landscapes. In India's post-independence history, particularly from the late 20th century onwards, several pivotal moments reshaped the nation's political trajectory, social policies, and electoral dynamics. Let us arrange the given events to trace this progression.

The first event in this sequence is The Mandal Commission gave its recommendations. The Second Backward Classes Commission, popularly known as the Mandal Commission, was established in 1979 by the Janata Party government. Its mandate was to identify the socially and educationally backward classes of India and recommend measures for their advancement. The Commission submitted its comprehensive report on December 31, 1980. This report recommended 27% reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in government jobs and public sector undertakings, a recommendation that would later become a major point of political contention and social change.

Following this, the next significant event was the Formation of the First Non-Congress coalition government at the centre. While the Janata Party formed a non-Congress government in 1977, the term "first non-Congress coalition government" in the context of the options often refers to the National Front government led by V.P. Singh, which came to power in December 1989. This government was a coalition of several regional parties and was supported by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Left Front from outside. It marked a significant shift from the long-standing dominance of the Congress party and ushered in an era of coalition politics at the national level. It was this government that decided to implement the Mandal Commission's recommendations in August 1990, leading to widespread protests and a profound impact on Indian society and politics.

The third event in chronological order is the tragic Assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Rajiv Gandhi, who had served as Prime Minister from 1984 to 1989, was campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, when he was assassinated on May 21, 1991. His death sent shockwaves across the nation and deeply impacted the political scene, occurring amidst a period of political instability and economic reforms.

Coalition politics became the defining feature of Indian governance from the late 1980s onward, when single-party majorities gave way to multi-party alliances. Each of the options represents a significant coalition experiment, but their tenures and frequency of government formation vary considerably.

The National Front came to power in 1989 under V.P. Singh, marking India's first major coalition experiment at the centre. This alliance, however, was short-lived and fragile, collapsing within two years. It formed the government only once.

The United Front emerged in 1996 as a coalition of regional and left parties, supported from outside by Congress. It produced two prime ministers—H.D. Deve Gowda and I.K. Gujral—but lasted barely two years, forming the government just once during this period.

The United Progressive Alliance (UPA), led by the Congress party, came to power in 2004 and again in 2009. This alliance governed for two full terms, representing two separate instances of government formation. The UPA brought together Congress with various regional parties and left support, creating a stable decade of coalition rule. …

Understanding the chronological order of events and leadership is fundamental to grasping the flow of history and political developments. In the context of India's parliamentary democracy, the sequence of Prime Ministers reflects significant shifts in political alliances, national priorities, and economic policies over time. The period from the late 1980s to the mid-1990s, in particular, was marked by considerable political instability and the rise of coalition governments, leading to several changes in leadership.

Let's arrange the given Prime Ministers according to their periods of rule:

• V.P. Singh (iv): Vishwanath Pratap Singh served as the 7th Prime Minister of India from December 2, 1989, to November 10, 1990. His tenure was notable for the implementation of the Mandal Commission recommendations, which sparked widespread protests, and the formation of the National Front government with external support.

• Chandra Shekhar (ii): Following V.P. Singh's resignation, Chandra Shekhar took office as the 8th Prime Minister on November 10, 1990, and served until June 21, 1991. His government was a minority government, supported by the Indian National Congress from outside, and faced significant economic challenges.

• P.V. Narasimha Rao (iii): P.V. Narasimha Rao became the 9th Prime Minister of India on June 21, 1991, and completed a full term until May 16, 1996. His period is widely recognized for initiating significant economic reforms, often referred to as liberalization, privatization, and globalization (LPG), which fundamentally reshaped India's economy. …

India's political landscape underwent a fundamental transformation after the Congress party's long dominance began to fracture in the late 1980s. Understanding the sequence and character of the governments that followed requires grasping both the alliances that formed and the pivotal moments that defined them.

The National Front Government emerged in 1989 under V.P. Singh after the Congress lost its majority. This coalition brought together regional parties and was supported from outside by the BJP and Left parties. Its most consequential decision was the implementation of the Mandal Commission recommendations in 1990, which reserved 27% of central government jobs for Other Backward Classes. The move reshaped Indian politics, intensifying caste-based mobilization and triggering widespread protests. The National Front's tenure was brief and turbulent, collapsing in 1990.

The United Front Government represented a different experiment in coalition politics during 1996–98. After inconclusive elections left no party with a clear majority, a loose alliance of regional and left parties formed the government with Congress support from outside. H.D. Deve Gowda, a regional leader from Karnataka, became Prime Minister in 1996 as a consensus candidate acceptable to the diverse coalition partners. His tenure lasted less than a year before he was replaced by I.K. Gujral, but both Prime Ministers led the same United Front arrangement.

The United Progressive Alliance came to power in 2004, led by the Congress party with support from regional and left parties. Manmohan Singh served as Prime Minister for two consecutive terms (2004–2014), becoming the first Prime Minister since Nehru to complete ten years in office. The UPA represented a Congress-led coalition model, distinct from the earlier experiments where regional parties dominated. …

Let us place each event in its proper historical context. The story begins before 1947, when Jammu and Kashmir was a princely state under Maharaja Hari Singh. This is the earliest point in the sequence — item (iv).

After India's independence and partition in August 1947, the Maharaja initially tried to remain independent. But in October 1947, Pakistan sent tribal infiltrators (item (i)) into Kashmir, hoping to force its accession. Facing this invasion, the Maharaja signed the Instrument of Accession with India on 26 October 1947. Shortly after, in 1948, Sheikh Abdullah — the leader of the National Conference and a popular figure — was appointed as the Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (item (ii)). So the invasion came before his appointment, not after.

Now, the Punjab Accord (item (iii)) is a much later event. Signed on 24 July 1985 between Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Harchand Singh Longowal (then leader of the Akali Dal), it aimed to resolve the Punjab crisis. This is clearly the most recent of the four events. …

India's economic policy after independence was largely characterized by a socialist framework, with significant state control over industries, extensive regulations, and protectionist trade policies. This period, often referred to as the 'License Raj', aimed at self-reliance but also led to inefficiencies and slower growth. The idea of "economic reforms" generally refers to a shift away from this model towards greater liberalization, privatization, and globalization.

Let's consider the Prime Ministers listed:

• Indira Gandhi (1966-77, 1980-84): Her tenure was largely marked by a strengthening of socialist policies, including the nationalization of major banks in 1969 and coal mines in 1973. While there were some policy adjustments, her era is not associated with initiating economic liberalization; rather, it reinforced state control and central planning.

• Rajiv Gandhi (1984-89): He is widely credited with taking the first significant, albeit cautious, steps towards economic liberalization. His government introduced policies aimed at:

  • Easing Industrial Licensing: Reducing the number of industries requiring licenses and simplifying procedures.
  • Promoting Technology and Modernization: Encouraging the import of technology and promoting sectors like computers and telecommunications.
  • Reducing Import Duties: Lowering tariffs on certain goods to encourage competition and modernization.
  • Fiscal Reforms: Attempting to rationalize taxes and improve revenue collection. These measures, though not as sweeping as the later reforms of 1991, represented a clear departure from the previous protectionist and highly regulated regime, laying some groundwork for future changes. …