Question

Arrange the following events in chronological order :
(i) Assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
(ii) Formation of the First Non-Congress coalition government at the centre.
(iii) Sixteenth Lok Sabha elections.
(iv) The Mandal Commission gave its recommendations.

• A. (ii), (iii), (i), (iv)
• B. (i), (iv), (iii), (ii)
• C. (iv), (ii), (i), (iii)
• D. (iii), (i), (ii), (iv)

Hint:

Key dates to remember: Mandal Commission Report (1980), National Front Coalition (1989), Rajiv Gandhi Assassination (1991), 16th Lok Sabha Election (2014).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Concept: Chronological arrangement requires establishing the exact years/dates for historical political developments in post-independence India.

Step 1: Establishing the timeline of each event.

• (iv) The Mandal Commission gave its recommendations: The Second Backward Classes Commission (Mandal Commission) submitted its report to the government in December 1980.
• (ii) Formation of the First Non-Congress coalition government at the centre: The National Front coalition government supported by BJP and Left parties was formed in December 1989 (or the Janata Party non-Congress coalition in 1977). In the context of 1980s/1990s political dynamics leading to coalition eras, the National Front coalition formed in 1989.
• (i) Assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi: Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated during an election rally in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, in May 1991.
• (iii) Sixteenth Lok Sabha elections: The 16th Lok Sabha general elections were held in April--May 2014, resulting in the BJP securing a full majority.

Step 2: Sequence arrangement.
Arranging these events chronologically from earliest to latest:
• Mandal Commission Report (December 1980) $\rightarrow$ (iv)
• First Non-Congress Coalition National Front era (1989) $\rightarrow$ (ii)
• Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi (May 1991) $\rightarrow$ (i)
• Sixteenth Lok Sabha Elections (May 2014) $\rightarrow$ (iii) Thus, the correct sequence is (iv), (ii), (i), (iii), matching Option (C).