(a) "India has accepted expressions of regional aspirations to strengthen the national integrity." Support the statement with two examples.
OR
(b) Do you agree that the Assam accord was successful in establishing peace and stability in the State ? Support your answer with any two arguments.
(a) "India has accepted expressions of regional aspirations to strengthen the national integrity." Support the statement with two examples.
OR
(b) Do you agree that the Assam accord was successful in establishing peace and stability in the State ? Support your answer with any two arguments.
This question offers a choice between two aspects of India's regional politics.
(a) India's acceptance of regional aspirations strengthening national integrity
- Reorganisation of states on linguistic lines: The States Reorganisation Act (1956) and later creations like Punjabi Suba (1966) and north-eastern states (Nagaland 1963, Meghalaya/Mizoram in the 1970s–80s) accommodated linguistic and ethnic identities within the Union rather than suppressing them, keeping these regions committed to India.
- Special constitutional/political arrangements: Provisions such as the Sixth Schedule autonomous councils for tribal areas and political accords like the Mizo Accord (1986) gave regional groups a genuine stake in India's federal structure, converting potential separatist sentiment into democratic participation.
OR (b) Assam Accord and peace in Assam
- Argument for success: The Assam Accord (1985), signed between the Union government and the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) after a six-year agitation, ended large-scale unrest and led AASU's leadership to form the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), which won the 1985 state elections — a successful conversion of protest into democratic politics.
- Argument against complete success: The accord's central promise of detecting and deporting illegal migrants was never fully implemented, leaving the core grievance unresolved and letting the migration issue resurface repeatedly (e.g., the later National Register of Citizens controversy).
- Balanced conclusion: The accord succeeded in restoring immediate peace and channelling agitation into electoral politics, but only partially resolved the underlying issue, so its success in ensuring lasting stability remains limited.
Marking Scheme
- 1For (a): 2 marks each for two valid examples of regional accommodation (e.g., linguistic reorganisation, special accords/autonomous councils) with an explanation of how each strengthened integration.
- 2For (b): 2 marks each for two valid arguments (may be both positive, both critical, or one of each) with factual support about the Assam Accord's outcomes.
- 3Either (a) or (b) attempted in full earns full marks; do not expect both to be answered.
Hint
For (a), cite two accommodation examples (linguistic states/accords); for (b), balance the accord's short-term success with its incomplete long-term implementation.
Quick Oral Answer
India strengthened national integrity by accommodating regional demands, as with linguistic states and the Assam Accord (1985) — though the Assam Accord only partly succeeded since its migrant-deportation clause remained unimplemented.
Analysis & Explanation
This OR question lets students choose between illustrating accommodation of regional demands (part a) or critically evaluating a specific accord (part b).
Concept
- Part (a) requires positive examples of accommodation (linguistic states, autonomous councils, accords) showing why decentralised recognition of identity strengthens rather than weakens the Indian Union.
- Part (b) requires an evaluative judgment on the Assam Accord specifically, balancing its real short-term success (ending agitation, AGP government) against its incomplete long-term implementation (migration issue unresolved).
Exam trap
- For (b), students often give a purely 'yes' or purely 'no' answer without acknowledging the accord's mixed record — CBSE marking schemes reward a balanced, evidence-based judgment over a one-sided claim.
Real-world link
- The unresolved migration question from the Assam Accord directly re-emerged in the 2019 National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise, showing the long shadow such unresolved accords cast on regional politics decades later.
Common Mistakes
- 1Attempting to answer both (a) and (b) instead of choosing one, wasting exam time.
- 2For (b), giving a one-sided 'yes' or 'no' without acknowledging the accord's incomplete implementation.
- 3Confusing the Assam Accord (1985) with the Assam Movement (1979–85) as though they were the same event.
Interesting Facts
The Assam Movement (1979–1985) was one of independent India's longest continuous mass agitations, lasting nearly six years before the Accord was signed.
The AGP, formed directly from the AASU leadership, is one of the few instances in Indian politics where a student movement transformed directly into a ruling political party.
The unresolved 'detection and deportation' clause of the Assam Accord became the legal basis for the 2019 Assam NRC exercise, more than three decades later.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Assam Accord of 1985?
The Assam Accord was signed in 1985 between the Union government and the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) after a six-year agitation against illegal migration, agreeing to detect and deport illegal migrants and leading AASU leaders to form the Asom Gana Parishad.
How did linguistic reorganisation of states strengthen national integrity?
By creating states along linguistic lines through the States Reorganisation Act (1956) and later additions, India recognised regional identity within the federal structure instead of suppressing it, which reduced separatist sentiment and deepened commitment to the Union.