Q.Explain the efforts of the Punjab government and the Indian government to foster peace in the State of Punjab.

After India gained independence in 1947, the question of reorganising the internal boundaries of states became a significant challenge. The colonial administration had drawn provincial boundaries largely for administrative convenience or based on territories conquered, without much regard for linguistic or cultural homogeneity. Many leaders, including Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, initially feared that reorganising states on linguistic lines might lead to disunity and further fragmentation of the newly independent nation.

However, the demand for linguistic states was strong and deeply rooted, particularly in South India. The Indian National Congress itself had, since its Nagpur session in 1920, reorganised its own provincial committees on a linguistic basis, acknowledging the principle. This historical stance fueled expectations among various linguistic groups that independent India would follow suit.

In the old Madras province, a large and vocal section of the population spoke Telugu, distinct from the Tamil-speaking majority. For many years, there had been a persistent demand from the Telugu-speaking people for a separate state, to be called Andhra, arguing that their language and culture were distinct and deserved their own administrative unit. This demand was not new; it had been a significant political issue for decades.

Despite these long-standing demands, the central government remained hesitant. This reluctance led to growing frustration among the Telugu-speaking population. A prominent Congress leader, Potti Sriramulu, took up the cause with immense dedication. He began a fast unto death in October 1952, demanding the creation of a separate Andhra state.

Let’s take each item in List-I and think about what it actually refers to.

1. Violation of Human Rights – This is a broad term, but in the context of this question, it is linked to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990. That invasion led to widespread reports of human rights abuses by Iraqi forces against Kuwaiti civilians, including torture, executions, and looting. So (a) matches with (iv).
2. ‘Mad-Cow’ disease – This is Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), a cattle disease that caused a major health crisis in the 1990s. It was first identified and became a massive public concern in Britain (the UK). So (b) matches with (i).
3. Disarmament Treaty – The phrase “Disarmament Treaty” here refers specifically to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which is a major international treaty banning chemical weapons and requiring their destruction. It is the most famous disarmament treaty of its kind. So (c) matches with (ii). …

The formation of states in independent India has been a long and sometimes contentious process, driven by linguistic, cultural, and administrative demands. The four pairs in this question — Gujarat, Haryana, Meghalaya, and Chhattisgarh — each emerged from a different parent state at a different moment in time. Let us walk through each one.

Gujarat was created on 1 May 1960, when the bilingual Bombay State was split into two linguistic states: Gujarat (for Gujarati speakers) and Maharashtra (for Marathi speakers). So Gujarat was carved out of Bombay.

Haryana was formed on 1 November 1966, when the larger Punjab state was divided on a linguistic-cum-cultural basis. The Hindi-speaking areas of Punjab became Haryana, while the Punjabi-speaking areas remained as Punjab (with a smaller territory). Haryana thus came from Punjab.

Meghalaya was initially created as an autonomous state within Assam in 1970, and became a full-fledged state on 21 January 1972. It was carved out of the hill districts of Assam to give separate political identity to the Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo tribal communities.

Chhattisgarh was formed on 1 November 2000, when the large central state of Madhya Pradesh was split. The eastern, predominantly tribal and forested region became Chhattisgarh, while the rest remained Madhya Pradesh. So Chhattisgarh came from Madhya Pradesh. …

After India achieved independence in 1947, the challenge of reorganizing its internal administrative boundaries became a critical task. The existing provinces were largely a legacy of British colonial rule, often drawn for administrative convenience rather than reflecting the linguistic or cultural identities of the people. Across the country, there was a strong popular demand for states to be reorganized along linguistic lines, as language was widely seen as a fundamental aspect of shared identity and culture.

The demand for a separate state for Telugu-speaking people, to be carved out of the Madras Presidency, was particularly intense and long-standing. This movement, often referred to as the Andhra movement, gained significant momentum in the early years of independent India.

A pivotal moment in this movement was the fast unto death undertaken by Potti Sriramulu in 1952. He demanded the creation of an Andhra State specifically for Telugu speakers. His tragic death after 58 days of fasting ignited widespread protests, unrest, and demonstrations across the Telugu-speaking regions.

In response to the overwhelming public pressure and the volatile situation, the Government of India announced the formation of Andhra State in October 1953. This was a landmark decision, as it marked the first time a state in independent India was created solely on a linguistic basis. Kurnool was designated as its capital. …

The global community has increasingly recognized the critical need to balance human development with environmental protection. This awareness has led to the formulation of international agreements, national policies, and overarching concepts designed to guide our interactions with the planet. Understanding these initiatives is crucial for addressing contemporary environmental challenges.

Let us examine each item in detail:

1. Kyoto Protocol

   The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty adopted in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997, and it came into force in 2005. It is an extension of the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The core objective of the Kyoto Protocol is to combat global warming by setting legally binding targets for industrialized countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. These gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, are primarily responsible for trapping heat in the Earth's atmosphere, leading to climate change. The Protocol established mechanisms like emissions trading and the Clean Development Mechanism to help countries meet their targets.

   Important

   The Kyoto Protocol was a landmark agreement because it was the first to set legally binding targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions for developed countries.

   Therefore, the Kyoto Protocol aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

2. Electricity Act of 2003, India

   The Electricity Act of 2003 was a significant piece of legislation enacted by the Parliament of India. Its primary goal was to consolidate the laws relating to the generation, transmission, distribution, trading, and use of electricity, and generally to take measures conducive to the development of the electricity industry. A key aspect of this Act was its forward-looking approach to energy sources. It specifically included provisions to promote the development of renewable energy sources and rural electrification, aiming to create a more competitive and efficient power sector while also addressing environmental concerns. The Act mandated State Electricity Regulatory Commissions to promote co-generation and generation of electricity from renewable sources.

   Therefore, the Electricity Act of 2003, India, encourages use of renewable energy.

3. Agenda 21

   Agenda 21 is a comprehensive plan of action that emerged from the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), popularly known as the Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992. It is a non-binding, voluntarily implemented action plan of the United Nations with regard to sustainable development. The '21' in Agenda 21 refers to the 21st century, signifying its forward-looking vision. It outlines a broad range of actions that can be taken globally, nationally, and locally by UN organizations, governments, and major groups in every area where humans impact the environment. These actions cover social and economic dimensions, conservation and management of resources for development, strengthening the role of major groups, and means of implementation. Essentially, it provides a blueprint for achieving sustainable development in the 21st century. …

The North-Eastern region of India is a distinct geographical and cultural zone, comprising eight states often called the "Seven Sisters" plus Sikkim. These states are Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Sikkim. The question tests your ability to identify which states belong only to this region, without mixing in states from other parts of India.

Let's examine each option carefully.

Option (a) lists Assam, Manipur, and Chhattisgarh. Assam and Manipur are indeed North-Eastern states. But Chhattisgarh is a central Indian state, carved out of Madhya Pradesh. It lies far west of the North-East, bordering Odisha, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra. So this set is incorrect.

Option (b) gives Manipur, Tripura, and Nagaland. All three are core members of the "Seven Sisters" — Manipur and Nagaland share a border, and Tripura lies to the southwest of Assam. Every one of these is a North-Eastern state. This is the correct set.

Option (c) includes Jharkhand, Nagaland, and Uttarakhand. Nagaland is North-Eastern, but Jharkhand is in eastern India (carved from Bihar) and Uttarakhand is in the northern Himalayan region (carved from Uttar Pradesh). Neither belongs to the North-East. So this option fails.

Option (d) lists Manipur, Maharashtra, and Mizoram. Manipur and Mizoram are both North-Eastern states. Maharashtra, however, is a western Indian state on the Arabian Sea coast, with Mumbai as its capital. It is nowhere near the North-East. Hence this set is also wrong. …

The mid-1980s witnessed one of the most turbulent chapters in Punjab's post-independence history. The state was gripped by militancy, communal tension, and a breakdown of law and order that had escalated dramatically after Operation Blue Star in June 1984 and the subsequent assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. By 1985, the new Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi faced the urgent task of restoring normalcy and reconciling with moderate Sikh leadership.

Against this backdrop, negotiations began between the central government and the Akali Dal, the principal political party representing Sikh interests. The Akali Dal was then led by Harchand Singh Longowal, a moderate leader who had been detained during the Emergency and had emerged as a voice willing to engage in dialogue rather than violence. Longowal understood that a political settlement was essential to end the bloodshed and bring Punjab back from the brink.

On 24 July 1985, Rajiv Gandhi and Harchand Singh Longowal signed what came to be known as the Punjab Accord, also called the Rajiv-Longowal Accord. The agreement addressed several long-standing Akali demands:

• Transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab
• Resolution of river-water disputes with neighboring states
• Rehabilitation of those affected by the 1984 riots
• Inquiry into the November 1984 anti-Sikh violence
• Withdrawal of cases against Akali workers

The Assam Accord emerged from one of independent India's most intense regional movements. Between 1979 and 1985, the All Assam Students' Union and the All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad led a mass agitation demanding the detection and deportation of illegal immigrants, primarily from Bangladesh. The movement paralysed the state, disrupted elections, and turned violent at times, culminating in tragic communal clashes. The Accord, signed in August 1985 between the agitation leaders and the central government under Rajiv Gandhi, was meant to be a comprehensive settlement.

On paper, the Accord addressed several core demands. It established March 24, 1971, as the cut-off date for citizenship: anyone who had entered Assam before that date would be regularised, those who came between 1971 and 1985 would be disenfranchised for ten years, and those arriving after 1985 would be detected and deported. The agreement also promised constitutional, legislative, and administrative safeguards to protect the cultural, social, and linguistic identity of the Assamese people. Economic development packages were pledged, and the government committed to sealing the international border and updating the National Register of Citizens.

The immediate political outcome was striking. The agitation ended, and many of its leaders, including Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, entered electoral politics. The Asom Gana Parishad, formed by movement veterans, swept to power in the 1985 state elections, riding a wave of popular legitimacy. For a moment, it seemed the Accord had channelled protest into democratic governance.

Yet the deeper outcomes proved far more ambiguous. The detection and deportation machinery moved glacially. Identifying and expelling illegal immigrants turned out to be legally complex, administratively cumbersome, and politically sensitive. Successive governments lacked the will or capacity to implement the process rigorously. The promised border fencing remained incomplete for decades, and the updating of the National Register of Citizens, though eventually undertaken, became a protracted and contentious exercise that would not be completed until 2019, more than three decades later.

The safeguards for Assamese identity remained vague and largely symbolic. No concrete constitutional amendments were enacted to protect the demographic or cultural character of the state in the way the agitation leaders had envisioned. Economic development packages were announced but often fell short in execution, and Assam continued to lag behind many other states in infrastructure and industrialisation. …