Read the following passage carefully and answer the question that follows:
The Cold War threatened to divide the world into two alliances. Under these circumstances, many of the newly independent countries, after gaining their independence from the colonial powers such as Britain and France, were worried that they would lose their freedom as soon as they gained formal independence. Cracks and splits within the western and eastern alliances were quick to appear headed by the USA and the USSR respectively. Communist China quarrelled with the USSR towards the late 1950s, and, in 1969, they fought a brief war over a territorial dispute.
Which event of the world has threatened to divide the world into two alliances?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Cold War
The Cold War threatened to divide the world into two alliances.
Note: The passage of this question is taken from the chapter ‘The Cold War Era’, which was there in the pre-rationalised NCERT and has been deleted from subsequent editions of NCERT, including the NCERT book (2026-27). The NCERT book (2026-27) still speaks of the two camps during the Cold War era, the military alliances led by the US and the Soviet Union (chapter ‘India’s External Relations’).
NCERT (2026-27): “Distance from two camps … You might ask why India did not join either of the two camps during the Cold War era. India wanted to keep away from the military alliances led by US and Soviet Union against each other. During the Cold War, the US-led North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact came into existence.…” NCERT (Pre-rationalised), chapter ‘The Cold War Era’: “THE EMERGENCE OF TWO POWER BLOCS … The Cold War threatened to divide the world into two alliances. Under these circumstances, many of the newly independent countries, after gaining their independence from the colonial powers such as Britain and France, were worried that they would lose their freedom as soon as they gained formal independence. Cracks and splits within the alliances were quick to appear. Communist China quarrelled with the USSR towards the late 1950s, and, in 1969, they fought a brief war over a territorial dispute.…” |