Read the passage and answer the questions:
India’s response to the regional aspirations.
In studying the Indian Constitution and the process of nation-building we have repeatedly come across one basic principle of the Indian approach to diversity - the Indian nation shall not deny the rights of different regions and linguistic groups to retain their own culture. We decided to live a united social life without losing the distinctiveness of the numerous cultures that constituted it. Indian nationalism sought to balance the principles of unity and diversity. The nation would not mean the negation of the region. In this sense the Indian approach was very different from the one adopted in many European countries where they saw cultural diversity as a threat to the nation. India adopted a democratic approach to the question of diversity. Democracy allows the political expressions of regional aspirations and does not look upon them as anti-national. Besides, democratic politics allows parties and groups to address the people on the basis of their regional identity, aspiration and specific regional problems. Thus, in the course of democratic politics, regional aspirations get strengthened. At the same time, democratic politics also means that regional issues and problems will receive adequate attention and accommodation in the policy making process.
Which one of the following is correct about democratic politics and accommodation of regional issues?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Democratic politics allows regional issues and problems to get adequate attention and accommodation in the policy making process.
Option (1) The regional aspiration should not be allowed to be incorporated in the policy making process. — Incorrect. The passage says the reverse: regional issues receive adequate attention and accommodation in policy making.
Option (2) Democratic politics believes that the developed regions should make policies for the backward ones. — Incorrect. If developed regions made policy for the others, the backward regions would have no voice. Democracy allows every region to express its own aspirations, and its issues are accommodated in the policy itself.
Option (3) Democratic politics allows regional issues and problems to get adequate attention and accommodation in the policy making process. — Correct. Democratic politics also means that regional issues and problems will receive adequate attention and accommodation in the policy making process.
Option (4) Democratic politics should give priority to the economically better off regions. — Incorrect. Favouring the better-off regions would leave the others’ problems unattended; the passage asks for adequate attention to regional problems, not priority to the rich.
NCERT (2025-26): “Indian approach … In studying the Indian Constitution and the process of nation-building we have repeatedly come across one basic principle of the Indian approach to diversity – the Indian nation shall not deny the rights of different regions and linguistic groups to retain their own culture. We decided to live a united social life without losing the distinctiveness of the numerous cultures that constituted it. Indian nationalism sought to balance the principles of unity and diversity. The nation would not mean the negation of the region. In this sense the Indian approach was very different from the one adopted in many European countries where they saw cultural diversity as a threat to the nation. India adopted a democratic approach to the question of diversity. Democracy allows the political expressions of regional aspirations and does not look upon them as anti-national. Besides, democratic politics allows parties and groups to address the people on the basis of their regional identity, aspiration and specific regional problems. Thus, in the course of democratic politics, regional aspirations get strengthened. At the same time, democratic politics also means that regional issues and problems will receive adequate attention and accommodation in the policy making process.” |