Question:
In which year did the largest public sector undertaking, Railways, go on a strike?
In which year did the largest public sector undertaking, Railways, go on a strike?
Show Hint
Remember that the historic 1974 Railway Strike was led by socialist firebrand George Fernandes and served as a critical turning point that directly escalated the political crisis leading up to the 1975 Emergency.
Updated On: Jul 2, 2026
- 1974
- 1973
- 1972
- 1971
Show Solution
Verified By Collegedunia
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Background of the Railway Strike:
In the early 1970s, India was facing severe economic distress. Inflation was extremely high due to the aftermath of the 1971 Bangladesh War, a global oil shock, and consecutive monsoon failures. This caused widespread unrest among workers, students, and middle-class citizens.
Step 2: Details of the Strike:
In May 1974, the National Coordination Committee for Railwaymen's Struggle (NCCRS), led by socialist leader George Fernandes, called for a nationwide strike. Over 1.7 million employees of the Indian Railways---the single largest public sector employer in India---went on strike, demanding bonus payments, better working conditions, and wage parity with other public sectors. The strike lasted for 20 days (from May 8 to May 27, 1974) and completely paralyzed public transport and goods movement across the country.
Step 3: Political Aftermath and Verification:
The Indira Gandhi government reacted with a heavy hand, arresting thousands of railway workers, deploying paramilitary forces, and declaring the strike illegal. This event was a major precursor to the rising anti-government sentiments that culminated in the declaration of Emergency in June 1975. Thus, the strike occurred in 1974 (Option A).
In the early 1970s, India was facing severe economic distress. Inflation was extremely high due to the aftermath of the 1971 Bangladesh War, a global oil shock, and consecutive monsoon failures. This caused widespread unrest among workers, students, and middle-class citizens.
Step 2: Details of the Strike:
In May 1974, the National Coordination Committee for Railwaymen's Struggle (NCCRS), led by socialist leader George Fernandes, called for a nationwide strike. Over 1.7 million employees of the Indian Railways---the single largest public sector employer in India---went on strike, demanding bonus payments, better working conditions, and wage parity with other public sectors. The strike lasted for 20 days (from May 8 to May 27, 1974) and completely paralyzed public transport and goods movement across the country.
Step 3: Political Aftermath and Verification:
The Indira Gandhi government reacted with a heavy hand, arresting thousands of railway workers, deploying paramilitary forces, and declaring the strike illegal. This event was a major precursor to the rising anti-government sentiments that culminated in the declaration of Emergency in June 1975. Thus, the strike occurred in 1974 (Option A).
Was this answer helpful?
0
0
Top CBSE CLASS XII Political Science Questions
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:
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.Study the given picture and answer the questions that follow:
- Given below are two statements:
Statement-I: Nepal was a Hindu Kingdom in the past and then a constitutional monarchy in the modern period for many years.
Statement-II: The struggling pro-democracy forces achieved their first major victory in 2006 when the king was forced to restore the House of Representatives. - Which of the following events made the South Asian region a sudden focus of global attention after the cold war period?
Match the terms given in Column-A correctly with Column-B and choose the correct answer from the codes given below:
View More Questions
Top CBSE CLASS XII Crisis of the Democratic Order Questions
- In which year, was the National Emergency imposed in India by Indira Gandhi government?
- Name the leader who announced a nationwide Satyagraha at Ram Lila Maidan before the declaration of National Emergency.
- Name the political party that won the Lok Sabha Election in 1977.
- Which one of the following was the decision of the Supreme Court given on 24 June, 1975 about the Indira Gandhi case?
- Which two reasons were given by the Government for declaring the National Emergency in 1975?
Top CBSE CLASS XII Questions
- 2, b, c are in A.P. and the range of determinant $\begin{vmatrix}1&1&1\\ 2&b&c\\ 4&b^{2}&c^{2}\end{vmatrix}$ is [2, 16]. Then find range of c is
- A boy of mass 50 kg is standing at one end of a, boat of length 9 m and mass 400 kg. He runs to the other, end. The distance through which the centre of mass of the boat boy system moves is
- A capillary tube of radius r is dipped inside a large vessel of water. The mass of water raised above water level is M. If the radius of capillary is doubled, the mass of water inside capillary will be
- A circular disc is rotating about its own axis. An external opposing torque 0.02 Nm is applied on the disc by which it comes rest in 5 seconds. The initial angular momentum of disc is
- A circular disc is rotating about its own axis at uniform angular velocity \(\omega.\) The disc is subjected to uniform angular retardation by which its angular velocity is decreased to \(\frac {\omega}{2}\) during 120 rotations. The number of rotations further made by it before coming to rest is
View More Questions