RBSE SS Political Science cheat sheet
RBSE SS Political Science · Keep the key ideas within reach.
Cold War Era and Post-Cold War World Politics
Cold War (1945–1991) pitted the US-led capitalist bloc against the USSR-led communist bloc; the term was popularised by Bernard Baruch and Walter Lippmann.
Key Cold War flashpoints: Berlin Blockade (1948–49), Korean War (1950–53), Cuban Missile Crisis (1962), Vietnam War, Soviet invasion of Afghanistan (1979).
NATO (1949) and the Warsaw Pact (1955) were the two rival military alliances; the Non-Aligned Movement (Bandung 1955, Belgrade 1961) offered a third path.
Détente refers to the easing of superpower tensions in the 1970s, marked by SALT I (1972) and the Helsinki Accords (1975).
The Cuban Missile Crisis followed the US discovery of Soviet missiles in Cuba; the USSR withdrew them in exchange for a US pledge not to invade Cuba and removal of missiles from Turkey.
The Berlin Wall fell in November 1989; German reunification followed in October 1990.
The USSR formally dissolved in December 1991, ending the bipolar order and leaving the US as the sole superpower.
Post-Cold War features: unipolar moment, US-led Gulf War (1991), NATO expansion eastward, and UN peacekeeping expansion.
The 9/11 attacks (2001) shifted global security focus to terrorism; the US invaded Afghanistan (2001) and Iraq (2003) without full UN Security Council authorisation.
Contemporary Centres of Power and Global Order
The EU (Maastricht Treaty, 1992) is a supranational body with a single market, common currency (euro, 1999), and institutions: European Commission, Council, Parliament, and Court of Justice.
ASEAN (1967, Bangkok Declaration) promotes regional cooperation among ten Southeast Asian states; ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) engages major powers on security.
The rise of China is measured by GDP growth, Belt and Road Initiative (2013), and membership of WTO (2001); China's per-capita income still lags the US.
Japan's post-war rise rested on state-led industrial policy (MITI), export-led growth, and a US security guarantee under the 1960 Treaty of Mutual Cooperation.
BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) is a grouping of emerging economies; South Africa joined in 2010; the New Development Bank was set up in 2014.
The G-20 became the premier forum for global economic coordination after the 2008 financial crisis.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO, 2001) includes China, Russia, and Central Asian states; India and Pakistan joined in 2017.
The Quad (US, Japan, India, Australia) is an informal consultative grouping focused on a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Contemporary South Asia and India's Neighbourhood
South Asia comprises Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka; SAARC was founded in 1985 at Dhaka.
SAARC's effectiveness is limited by India–Pakistan tensions; SAFTA (2006) is the regional free trade arrangement.
Bangladesh emerged in 1971 after a liberation war with Pakistani forces; India recognised Bangladesh in December 1971.
Sri Lanka's civil war (1983–2009) pitted the LTTE against the state; India's IPKF (1987–1990) intervened under the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord.
Nepal is a landlocked Himalayan state; India and Nepal share an open border and the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship.
India–Pakistan disputes include Kashmir, cross-border terrorism, and the Indus Waters Treaty (1960) brokered by the World Bank.
Maldives is a small island state vulnerable to sea-level rise; India has provided disaster and infrastructure assistance.
China's growing presence in South Asia (CPEC, Hambantota port) is a strategic concern for India.
BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal) Motor Vehicles Agreement (2015) promotes sub-regional connectivity.
International Organisations
The UN was founded in 1945 (San Francisco Charter); membership is now 193 states; headquarters in New York.
UN principal organs: General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, Trusteeship Council, International Court of Justice, Secretariat.
The Security Council has 15 members: five permanent (China, France, Russia, UK, US) with veto power and ten elected for two-year terms.
The ICJ (The Hague) settles disputes between states; the ICC (Rome Statute, 1998) tries individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.
The IMF and World Bank (Bretton Woods, 1944) govern international finance and development lending; voting weights reflect economic size.
The WTO (1995, successor to GATT) administers trade rules; decisions are by consensus among members.
WHO (1948) handles global health; UNESCO (1945) handles education, science, and culture.
India has been a leading voice for UN Security Council reform, seeking a permanent seat as part of the G-4 (with Brazil, Germany, Japan).
The NPT (1968) recognises five nuclear-weapon states; India, Pakistan, and Israel are non-signatories.
Security and Environment in Contemporary World Politics
Security has expanded from military to non-traditional dimensions: terrorism, cyber, energy, food, health, and environmental security.
The 1972 Stockholm Conference and 1992 Rio Earth Summit established global environmental governance; the 1997 Kyoto Protocol set binding targets for developed states.
The 2015 Paris Agreement aims to limit warming to well below 2°C, preferably 1.5°C, with nationally determined contributions (NDCs).
The IPCC (1988) synthesises climate science for policymakers; the UNFCCC (1992) is the treaty framework.
The Montreal Protocol (1987) successfully phased out ozone-depleting substances.
India's climate commitments include the National Action Plan on Climate Change (2008) and the International Solar Alliance (2015).
Terrorism is addressed through UN Security Council resolutions and conventions; India has been a victim of cross-border terrorism.
Nuclear deterrence rests on mutually assured destruction (MAD) and second-strike capability; India follows no-first-use (NFU) doctrine.
Migration and refugee protection are governed by the 1951 Refugee Convention; India is not a signatory.
Globalisation and Its Impact
Globalisation is the integration of economies and societies through trade, capital flows, technology, and migration.
Key drivers: liberalisation, ICT revolution, container shipping, and WTO trade rules.
Globalisation's benefits: growth, FDI, technology transfer, and consumer choice; costs: inequality, job displacement, and cultural homogenisation.
The 1991 balance-of-payments crisis triggered India's LPG reforms (liberalisation, privatisation, globalisation).
Multinational corporations (MNCs) are firms operating in more than one country; they dominate global value chains.
The 2008 financial crisis exposed globalisation's risks and prompted calls for regulation and deglobalisation.
Anti-globalisation movements (Seattle 1999, World Social Forum) critique corporate power and inequality.
India's exports and IT services growth illustrate globalisation's opportunities; agriculture remains sensitive.
Cultural globalisation is visible in media, food, fashion, and language, raising identity debates.
Challenges of Nation Building in India
Partition (1947) created India and Pakistan; millions migrated, and communal violence killed hundreds of thousands.
The integration of princely states (Hyderabad, Junagadh, Kashmir) was achieved through negotiation, plebiscite, and force (Operation Polo, 1948).
Linguistic reorganisation of states followed the States Reorganisation Act (1956); Andhra (1953) was the first linguistic state.
The Official Languages Act (1963) allowed English to continue alongside Hindi, defusing anti-Hindi protests.
The Constitution adopted on 26 November 1949 and came into force on 26 January 1950.
Universal adult franchise was adopted in 1950, a radical democratic step for a poor, illiterate society.
The first general election (1951–52) was a huge logistical exercise, with the Congress winning a large majority.
Nation building faced challenges of communalism, regionalism, caste, and poverty.
The 1975–77 Emergency (declared 25 June 1975) suspended civil liberties and was lifted in March 1977.
Era of One-Party Dominance and Coalition Politics in India
The Congress dominated Indian politics from 1952 to 1977, winning three consecutive Lok Sabha majorities.
One-party dominance (the 'Congress system', a term used by Rajni Kothari) means a dominant party coexists with many opposition parties.
Congress's dominance rested on its role in the freedom movement, organisational reach, and inclusive coalition of social groups.
The 1977 election after the Emergency brought the Janata Party (first non-Congress government) to power.
Coalition era began in the late 1980s: National Front (1989), United Front (1996–98), NDA (1998–2004), UPA (2004–2014), NDA (2014–).
Coalition politics requires consensus, common minimum programmes, and power-sharing among parties.
Regional parties gained significance: DMK, AIADMK, TMC, BSP, SP, RJD, and others.
The 1989 election marked the end of Congress's single-party majority; hung parliaments became common.
Coalition stability improved with formal pre-election alliances and common agendas.
Planning, Liberalisation and Economic Development in India
The Planning Commission (1950) prepared Five-Year Plans; the First Plan (1951–56) focused on agriculture and irrigation.
The Second Plan (1956–61) adopted the Mahalanobis model, emphasising heavy industry and import substitution.
The Third Plan (1961–66) aimed at self-reliant growth; its failure led to the 'Plan holiday' (1966–69).
The Green Revolution (1960s–70s) boosted wheat and rice output through HYV seeds, fertilisers, and irrigation.
The 1991 LPG reforms: devaluation of the rupee, abolition of industrial licensing, reduction of tariffs, and opening to FDI.
The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (2005) guarantees 100 days of wage employment per rural household.
The Planning Commission was replaced by the NITI Aayog in 2015, with a focus on cooperative and competitive federalism.
The 1991 reforms followed an IMF loan and a balance-of-payments crisis.
Poverty and inequality remain challenges; poverty measures include the Tendulkar and Rangarajan committees.
Regional Aspirations and Social Movements in India
The Dravidian movement in Tamil Nadu challenged Brahminical dominance and Hindi imposition; the DMK was formed in 1949.
The Punjab crisis: the Akali movement for greater autonomy and the 1984 Operation Blue Star at the Golden Temple.
Jammu and Kashmir's special status under Article 370 was revoked in August 2019.
The Assam Movement (1979–85) led to the Assam Accord (1985) on illegal migration.
The Narmada Bachao Andolan (Medha Patkar) opposed large dams for displacement and ecological reasons.
The Chipko Movement (1973) in Uttarakhand protected forests through non-violent resistance.
The anti-Mandal agitation (1990) followed the implementation of the Mandal Commission's OBC reservations.
The Telangana movement led to the creation of Telangana state in June 2014.
Social movements include farmers' movements, women's movements, and environmental movements.
Recent Developments in Indian Politics
The 2014 Lok Sabha election gave the BJP a single-party majority, ending the coalition era's hung parliaments.
The 2019 election returned the BJP with a larger majority; the NDA formed the government.
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) was implemented on 1 July 2017, replacing multiple indirect taxes.
Demonetisation of ₹500 and ₹1000 notes was announced on 8 November 2016.
The Citizenship Amendment Act (2019) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) sparked nationwide debate and protests.
The abrogation of Article 370 (August 2019) reorganised Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories.
The COVID-19 pandemic (2020) prompted lockdowns, a migrant labour crisis, and economic stimulus.
The 2023 G20 summit in New Delhi highlighted India's global role and African Union membership.
The 2024 Lok Sabha election returned the NDA to power with coalition partners.
Indian Foreign Policy and National Interest
India's foreign policy is guided by national interest, non-alignment, and strategic autonomy.
Panchsheel (1954) with China codified five principles of peaceful coexistence.
The 1971 Indo-Soviet Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation provided security support during the Bangladesh war.
The 1998 Pokhran-II nuclear tests led to sanctions; India declared a no-first-use doctrine.
The 2005 India–US civil nuclear deal ended India's nuclear isolation and required an IAEA safeguards agreement.
The Gujral Doctrine (1996) emphasised non-reciprocal concessions to smaller neighbours.
The Look East Policy (1991) became the Act East Policy (2014), deepening ties with ASEAN and East Asia.
India is a member of BRICS, SCO, G-20, and the Quad, and seeks a permanent UNSC seat.
India's strategic interests include maritime security in the Indian Ocean, energy security, and counter-terrorism.
Cold War Era and Post-Cold War World Politics
Cold War (1945–1991) pitted the US-led capitalist bloc against the USSR-led communist bloc; the term was popularised by Bernard Baruch and Walter Lippmann.
Key Cold War flashpoints: Berlin Blockade (1948–49), Korean War (1950–53), Cuban Missile Crisis (1962), Vietnam War, Soviet invasion of Afghanistan (1979).
NATO (1949) and the Warsaw Pact (1955) were the two rival military alliances; the Non-Aligned Movement (Bandung 1955, Belgrade 1961) offered a third path.
Détente refers to the easing of superpower tensions in the 1970s, marked by SALT I (1972) and the Helsinki Accords (1975).
The Cuban Missile Crisis followed the US discovery of Soviet missiles in Cuba; the USSR withdrew them in exchange for a US pledge not to invade Cuba and removal of missiles from Turkey.
The Berlin Wall fell in November 1989; German reunification followed in October 1990.
The USSR formally dissolved in December 1991, ending the bipolar order and leaving the US as the sole superpower.
Post-Cold War features: unipolar moment, US-led Gulf War (1991), NATO expansion eastward, and UN peacekeeping expansion.
The 9/11 attacks (2001) shifted global security focus to terrorism; the US invaded Afghanistan (2001) and Iraq (2003) without full UN Security Council authorisation.
Contemporary Centres of Power and Global Order
The EU (Maastricht Treaty, 1992) is a supranational body with a single market, common currency (euro, 1999), and institutions: European Commission, Council, Parliament, and Court of Justice.
ASEAN (1967, Bangkok Declaration) promotes regional cooperation among ten Southeast Asian states; ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) engages major powers on security.
The rise of China is measured by GDP growth, Belt and Road Initiative (2013), and membership of WTO (2001); China's per-capita income still lags the US.
Japan's post-war rise rested on state-led industrial policy (MITI), export-led growth, and a US security guarantee under the 1960 Treaty of Mutual Cooperation.
BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) is a grouping of emerging economies; South Africa joined in 2010; the New Development Bank was set up in 2014.
The G-20 became the premier forum for global economic coordination after the 2008 financial crisis.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO, 2001) includes China, Russia, and Central Asian states; India and Pakistan joined in 2017.
The Quad (US, Japan, India, Australia) is an informal consultative grouping focused on a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Contemporary South Asia and India's Neighbourhood
South Asia comprises Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka; SAARC was founded in 1985 at Dhaka.
SAARC's effectiveness is limited by India–Pakistan tensions; SAFTA (2006) is the regional free trade arrangement.
Bangladesh emerged in 1971 after a liberation war with Pakistani forces; India recognised Bangladesh in December 1971.
Sri Lanka's civil war (1983–2009) pitted the LTTE against the state; India's IPKF (1987–1990) intervened under the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord.
Nepal is a landlocked Himalayan state; India and Nepal share an open border and the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship.
India–Pakistan disputes include Kashmir, cross-border terrorism, and the Indus Waters Treaty (1960) brokered by the World Bank.
Maldives is a small island state vulnerable to sea-level rise; India has provided disaster and infrastructure assistance.
China's growing presence in South Asia (CPEC, Hambantota port) is a strategic concern for India.
BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal) Motor Vehicles Agreement (2015) promotes sub-regional connectivity.
International Organisations
The UN was founded in 1945 (San Francisco Charter); membership is now 193 states; headquarters in New York.
UN principal organs: General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, Trusteeship Council, International Court of Justice, Secretariat.
The Security Council has 15 members: five permanent (China, France, Russia, UK, US) with veto power and ten elected for two-year terms.
The ICJ (The Hague) settles disputes between states; the ICC (Rome Statute, 1998) tries individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.
The IMF and World Bank (Bretton Woods, 1944) govern international finance and development lending; voting weights reflect economic size.
The WTO (1995, successor to GATT) administers trade rules; decisions are by consensus among members.
WHO (1948) handles global health; UNESCO (1945) handles education, science, and culture.
India has been a leading voice for UN Security Council reform, seeking a permanent seat as part of the G-4 (with Brazil, Germany, Japan).
The NPT (1968) recognises five nuclear-weapon states; India, Pakistan, and Israel are non-signatories.
Security and Environment in Contemporary World Politics
Security has expanded from military to non-traditional dimensions: terrorism, cyber, energy, food, health, and environmental security.
The 1972 Stockholm Conference and 1992 Rio Earth Summit established global environmental governance; the 1997 Kyoto Protocol set binding targets for developed states.
The 2015 Paris Agreement aims to limit warming to well below 2°C, preferably 1.5°C, with nationally determined contributions (NDCs).
The IPCC (1988) synthesises climate science for policymakers; the UNFCCC (1992) is the treaty framework.
The Montreal Protocol (1987) successfully phased out ozone-depleting substances.
India's climate commitments include the National Action Plan on Climate Change (2008) and the International Solar Alliance (2015).
Terrorism is addressed through UN Security Council resolutions and conventions; India has been a victim of cross-border terrorism.
Nuclear deterrence rests on mutually assured destruction (MAD) and second-strike capability; India follows no-first-use (NFU) doctrine.
Migration and refugee protection are governed by the 1951 Refugee Convention; India is not a signatory.
Globalisation and Its Impact
Globalisation is the integration of economies and societies through trade, capital flows, technology, and migration.
Key drivers: liberalisation, ICT revolution, container shipping, and WTO trade rules.
Globalisation's benefits: growth, FDI, technology transfer, and consumer choice; costs: inequality, job displacement, and cultural homogenisation.
The 1991 balance-of-payments crisis triggered India's LPG reforms (liberalisation, privatisation, globalisation).
Multinational corporations (MNCs) are firms operating in more than one country; they dominate global value chains.
The 2008 financial crisis exposed globalisation's risks and prompted calls for regulation and deglobalisation.
Anti-globalisation movements (Seattle 1999, World Social Forum) critique corporate power and inequality.
India's exports and IT services growth illustrate globalisation's opportunities; agriculture remains sensitive.
Cultural globalisation is visible in media, food, fashion, and language, raising identity debates.
Challenges of Nation Building in India
Partition (1947) created India and Pakistan; millions migrated, and communal violence killed hundreds of thousands.
The integration of princely states (Hyderabad, Junagadh, Kashmir) was achieved through negotiation, plebiscite, and force (Operation Polo, 1948).
Linguistic reorganisation of states followed the States Reorganisation Act (1956); Andhra (1953) was the first linguistic state.
The Official Languages Act (1963) allowed English to continue alongside Hindi, defusing anti-Hindi protests.
The Constitution adopted on 26 November 1949 and came into force on 26 January 1950.
Universal adult franchise was adopted in 1950, a radical democratic step for a poor, illiterate society.
The first general election (1951–52) was a huge logistical exercise, with the Congress winning a large majority.
Nation building faced challenges of communalism, regionalism, caste, and poverty.
The 1975–77 Emergency (declared 25 June 1975) suspended civil liberties and was lifted in March 1977.
Era of One-Party Dominance and Coalition Politics in India
The Congress dominated Indian politics from 1952 to 1977, winning three consecutive Lok Sabha majorities.
One-party dominance (the 'Congress system', a term used by Rajni Kothari) means a dominant party coexists with many opposition parties.
Congress's dominance rested on its role in the freedom movement, organisational reach, and inclusive coalition of social groups.
The 1977 election after the Emergency brought the Janata Party (first non-Congress government) to power.
Coalition era began in the late 1980s: National Front (1989), United Front (1996–98), NDA (1998–2004), UPA (2004–2014), NDA (2014–).
Coalition politics requires consensus, common minimum programmes, and power-sharing among parties.
Regional parties gained significance: DMK, AIADMK, TMC, BSP, SP, RJD, and others.
The 1989 election marked the end of Congress's single-party majority; hung parliaments became common.
Coalition stability improved with formal pre-election alliances and common agendas.
Planning, Liberalisation and Economic Development in India
The Planning Commission (1950) prepared Five-Year Plans; the First Plan (1951–56) focused on agriculture and irrigation.
The Second Plan (1956–61) adopted the Mahalanobis model, emphasising heavy industry and import substitution.
The Third Plan (1961–66) aimed at self-reliant growth; its failure led to the 'Plan holiday' (1966–69).
The Green Revolution (1960s–70s) boosted wheat and rice output through HYV seeds, fertilisers, and irrigation.
The 1991 LPG reforms: devaluation of the rupee, abolition of industrial licensing, reduction of tariffs, and opening to FDI.
The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (2005) guarantees 100 days of wage employment per rural household.
The Planning Commission was replaced by the NITI Aayog in 2015, with a focus on cooperative and competitive federalism.
The 1991 reforms followed an IMF loan and a balance-of-payments crisis.
Poverty and inequality remain challenges; poverty measures include the Tendulkar and Rangarajan committees.
Regional Aspirations and Social Movements in India
The Dravidian movement in Tamil Nadu challenged Brahminical dominance and Hindi imposition; the DMK was formed in 1949.
The Punjab crisis: the Akali movement for greater autonomy and the 1984 Operation Blue Star at the Golden Temple.
Jammu and Kashmir's special status under Article 370 was revoked in August 2019.
The Assam Movement (1979–85) led to the Assam Accord (1985) on illegal migration.
The Narmada Bachao Andolan (Medha Patkar) opposed large dams for displacement and ecological reasons.
The Chipko Movement (1973) in Uttarakhand protected forests through non-violent resistance.
The anti-Mandal agitation (1990) followed the implementation of the Mandal Commission's OBC reservations.
The Telangana movement led to the creation of Telangana state in June 2014.
Social movements include farmers' movements, women's movements, and environmental movements.
Recent Developments in Indian Politics
The 2014 Lok Sabha election gave the BJP a single-party majority, ending the coalition era's hung parliaments.
The 2019 election returned the BJP with a larger majority; the NDA formed the government.
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) was implemented on 1 July 2017, replacing multiple indirect taxes.
Demonetisation of ₹500 and ₹1000 notes was announced on 8 November 2016.
The Citizenship Amendment Act (2019) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) sparked nationwide debate and protests.
The abrogation of Article 370 (August 2019) reorganised Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories.
The COVID-19 pandemic (2020) prompted lockdowns, a migrant labour crisis, and economic stimulus.
The 2023 G20 summit in New Delhi highlighted India's global role and African Union membership.
The 2024 Lok Sabha election returned the NDA to power with coalition partners.
Indian Foreign Policy and National Interest
India's foreign policy is guided by national interest, non-alignment, and strategic autonomy.
Panchsheel (1954) with China codified five principles of peaceful coexistence.
The 1971 Indo-Soviet Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation provided security support during the Bangladesh war.
The 1998 Pokhran-II nuclear tests led to sanctions; India declared a no-first-use doctrine.
The 2005 India–US civil nuclear deal ended India's nuclear isolation and required an IAEA safeguards agreement.
The Gujral Doctrine (1996) emphasised non-reciprocal concessions to smaller neighbours.
The Look East Policy (1991) became the Act East Policy (2014), deepening ties with ASEAN and East Asia.
India is a member of BRICS, SCO, G-20, and the Quad, and seeks a permanent UNSC seat.
India's strategic interests include maritime security in the Indian Ocean, energy security, and counter-terrorism.