Question

Describe any four political developments in India that took place between 1988 to 1993.

Hint:

Think of the National Front and the 1989 election, the Mandal decision of 1990, the 1991 assassination and reforms, and the Ayodhya events of 1992. Explain four of them.

Answer 1

Step 1: Understand the question:
The years 1988 to 1993 saw many major events in Indian politics. We describe any four of them in the order in which they happened, with a line or two of explanation for each.

Step 2: Development 1 - National Front and the 1989 election:
In 1988 opposition parties came together to form the National Front. In the 1989 election the Congress lost its majority. A National Front government led by V.P. Singh was formed with outside support from the BJP and the Left.

Step 3: Development 2 - Mandal Commission report, 1990:
The V.P. Singh government decided to implement the Mandal Commission report in 1990. It provided 27 percent reservation for the OBCs in central government jobs. This led to protests and also to a new politics of caste.

Step 4: Development 3 - Rajiv Gandhi assassination and the new economic policy, 1991:
Rajiv Gandhi was killed by a suicide bomber in May 1991 while campaigning for the Lok Sabha election. The Congress then formed a minority government under P.V. Narasimha Rao. His government introduced economic reforms in 1991.

Step 5: Development 4 - Demolition of the Babri Masjid, 1992:
On 6 December 1992 the Babri Masjid at Ayodhya was demolished by a crowd. Riots broke out in several parts of the country. It deeply changed the debate on secularism and religion in politics.

Final Answer:
Four political developments between 1988 and 1993 were the formation of the National Front and the 1989 verdict, the Mandal decision of 1990, the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi with the 1991 reforms, and the Ayodhya demolition of 1992.