Read the passage and answer the questions:
The 1980s also saw the rise of political organisation of the Dalits. In 1978 the Backward and Minority Communities Employees Federation (BAMCEF) was formed. This organisation was not an ordinary trade union of government employees. It took a strong position in favour of political power to the ‘bahujan’ – the SC, ST, OBC and minorities. It was out of this that the subsequent Dalit Shoshit Samaj Sangharsh Samiti and later the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) emerged under the leadership of Kanshi Ram. The other long-term development during this period was the visible rise of politics based on religious identity leading to a debate about secularism and democracy. After the fall of the Janata Party and its break-up, the supporters of erstwhile Jana Sangh formed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 1980. Initially, the BJP adopted a broader political platform than that of the Jana Sangh. BJP embraced ‘Gandhian’ Socialism along with cultural nationalism as its ideology. But it did not get much success in the elections held in 1984. After 1986, the party began to emphasise nationalism as the core of its ideology. The BJP also pursued the politics of ‘Hindutva’ for political mobilisation.
Two developments around 1986 became central to the politics of BJP. The first was the Shah Bano case in 1985. In this case a 62-year old divorced Muslim woman, had filed a case for maintenance from her former husband. The Supreme Court ruled in favour of Shah Bano. The orthodox Muslims saw the Supreme Court’s order as an interference in Muslim Personal Law. On the demand of some Muslim leaders, the government passed the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986 that nullified the Supreme Court’s judgement. The Ayodhya issue, as the second significant development, was deeply rooted in socio-cultural and political history of the country pertaining to different perspectives from various stakeholders.
Which one of the following was not an issue that became central to the politics of the BJP around 1986?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → The rise of political organisation of the Dalits.
Note: The given answer is as per the official NTA Answer Key. However, there seems to be an ambiguity in the question. The passage names only two developments around 1986 as central to the politics of the BJP, the Shah Bano case and the Ayodhya issue. Emphasis on nationalism (Option 2) was the party’s own change of ideology after 1986, not one of the two; going strictly by the passage, Options (2) and (3) both fall outside the two developments, though only Option (3) is not about the BJP at all, as explained below.
Option (1) The nullification of the Supreme Court ruling in favour of Shah Bano. Central to BJP politics (Incorrect). The Shah Bano case was the first of the two developments around 1986; the Act of 1986 nullified the Court’s judgement.
Option (2) Emphasis on nationalism as the core of its ideology. Central to BJP politics (Incorrect). After 1986 the party began to emphasise nationalism as the core of its ideology.
Option (3) The rise of political organisation of the Dalits. Not central to BJP politics (Correct). This was a separate development of the 1980s, which produced BAMCEF and later the Bahujan Samaj Party under Kanshi Ram. It had nothing to do with the politics of the BJP.
Option (4) The Ayodhya issue, deeply rooted in socio-cultural and political history of India. Central to BJP politics (Incorrect). It was the second significant development.
NCERT (2025-26): “Political fallouts … The 1980s also saw the rise of political organisation of the Dalits. In 1978 the Backward and Minority Communities Employees Federation (BAMCEF) was formed. This organisation was not an ordinary trade union of government employees. It took a strong position in favour of political power to the ‘bahujan’ – the SC, ST, OBC and minorities. It was out of this that the subsequent Dalit Shoshit Samaj Sangharsh Samiti and later the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) emerged under the leadership of Kanshi Ram.… Communalism, Secularism, Democracy … After 1986, the party began to emphasise nationalism as the core of its ideology. The BJP also pursued the politics of ‘Hindutva’ for political mobilisation.… Communalism, Secularism, Democracy … Two developments around 1986 became central to the politics of BJP. The first was the Shah Bano case in 1985. In this case a 62-year old divorced Muslim woman, had filed a case for maintenance from her former husband. The Supreme Court ruled in favour of Shah Bano. The orthodox Muslims saw the Supreme Court’s order as an interference in Muslim Personal Law. On the demand of some Muslim leaders, the government passed the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986 that nullified the Supreme Court’s judgement.… Ayodhya Issue … The Ayodhya issue, as the second significant development, was deeply rooted in socio-cultural and political history of the country pertaining to different perspectives from various stakeholders. It involved contentions regarding the birth place of Shri Ram, one of the most holy religious sites, and its legal ownership.…” |