Students’ protests in Gujarat and Bihar, both of which were Congress-ruled States, had a far-reaching impact on the politics of the two States and national politics.  In January 1974 students in Gujarat started an agitation against rising prices of food grains, cooking oil, and other essential commodities, and against corruption in high places. The students’ protest was joined by major opposition parties and became widespread leading to the imposition of President’s rule in the state. Similarly, In March 1974 students came together in Bihar to protest against rising prices, food scarcity, unemployment, and corruption. After a point they invited Jayaprakash Narayan (JP), who had given up active politics and was involved in social work, to lead the student movement.

Which of the following changes was seen in Indian politics after 1967?

All of the above

The correct answer is Option 4 - All of the above

Option 1- Indira Gandhi had emerged as a towering leader with tremendous popularity.
Option 2- The party competition had become bitter and polarised.
Option 3- The period also witnessed tensions in the relationship between the government and the judiciary.
Option 4- All of the above

Many changes were taking place in Indian politics since 1967. Indira Gandhi had emerged as a towering leader with tremendous popularity. This was also the period when party competition became bitter and polarised. This period also witnessed tensions in the relationship between the government and the judiciary. The Supreme Court found many initiatives of the government to be violative of the Constitution. The Congress party took the position that this stand of the Court was against principles of democracy and parliamentary supremacy. The Congress also alleged that the Court was a conservative institution and it was becoming an obstacle in the way of implementing pro-poor welfare programmes. The parties opposed to the Congress felt that politics was becoming too personalised and that governmental authority was being converted into personal authority. The split in the Congress had sharpened the divisions between Indira Gandhi and her opponents.