Following the tragic assassination of Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi assumed the role of Prime Minister. In the subsequent 1984 Lok Sabha elections held shortly thereafter, he guided the Congress to a substantial triumph. As the 1980s came to a conclusion, India encountered a series of five transformative occurrences that were destined to exert a lasting influence on its political landscape.

What was the 'Mandal issue' that emerged in national politics?
1) A dispute over land distribution
2) A conflict between religious groups
3) A debate about economic reforms
4) A controversy over reservations for 'OBCs' in central government jobs

Choose the correct answer from the given options:

4

In the politics of the 1990s another notable occurrence revolved around the emergence of the 'Mandal issue' on the national political stage. This development transpired after the 1990 decision made by the newly-formed National Front government to enforce the Mandal Commission's proposal, which advocated reserving central government jobs for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs). This move triggered fervent and often violent 'anti-Mandal' demonstrations in various regions of the country. The conflict between advocates and critics of OBC reservations came to be known as the 'Mandal issue,' leaving an indelible impact on the political landscape from 1989 onward.