Which of the following is not a reason for the disintegration of Sovi…

Read the passage below and answer the questions

The Soviet system, however, became very bureaucratic and authoritarian, making life very difficult for its citizens. Lack of democracy and the absence of freedom of speech stifled people who often expressed their dissent in jokes and cartoons. Most of the institutions of the Soviet state needed reform: the one-party system represented by the Communist Party of the Soviet Union had tight control over all institutions and was unaccountable to the people. The party refused to recognize the urge of people in the fifteen different republics that formed the Soviet Union to manage their own affairs including their cultural affairs. Although, on paper, Russia was only one of the fifteen republics that altogether constituted the USSR, in reality, Russia dominated everything and people from other regions felt neglected and often suppressed.

Which of the following is not a reason for the disintegration of Soviet Union?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 4

The correct answer is Option (4) → Capitalist policies followed by the state

Option (1) Bureaucratic and authoritarian system — A reason (Incorrect). The Soviet system became very bureaucratic and authoritarian, making life very difficult for its citizens.

Option (2) Lack of democracy and freedom — A reason (Incorrect). Lack of democracy and the absence of freedom of speech stifled the people, who could express their dissent only in jokes and cartoons.

Option (3) Russian dominance over Soviet Union — A reason (Incorrect). Russia dominated everything, so people from the other regions felt neglected and often suppressed.

Option (4) Capitalist policies followed by the state — Not a reason (Correct). The Soviet state did not follow capitalist policies at all. It had a socialist system in which state ownership was the dominant form of ownership: land and productive assets were owned and controlled by the state.

NCERT (2026-27): “What was the Soviet System? … State ownership was the dominant form of ownership: land and productive assets were owned and controlled by the Soviet state.…

What was the Soviet System? … The Soviet system, however, became very bureaucratic and authoritarian, making life very difficult for its citizens. Lack of democracy and the absence of freedom of speech stifled people who often expressed their dissent in jokes and cartoons. Most of the institutions of the Soviet state needed reform: the one-party system represented by the Communist Party of the Soviet Union had tight control over all institutions and was unaccountable to the people. The party refused to recognise the urge of people in the fifteen different republics that formed the Soviet Union to manage their own affairs including their cultural affairs. Although, on paper, Russia was only one of the fifteen republics that together constituted the USSR, in reality Russia dominated everything, and people from other regions felt neglected and often suppressed.”