Comprehension

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions based on it : ‘‘The defeat of the Congress party in 1989 marked the end of Congress dominance over the Indian party system. It did not, however, mean the emergence of any other single party to fill in its place. Thus, began an era of multi-party system, in which regional parties played a crucial role in forming the alliances.’’

Question: 1

In which year did the Congress party face a setback for the first time and lose power in some states ?

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The 1967 Fourth General Elections are historically termed a "political earthquake" in India because Congress lost assembly majorities across 9 states for the first time since 1947.

Updated On: Aug 11, 2026

\( 1962 \)
\( 1967 \)
\( 1971 \)
\( 1977 \)

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The Correct Option is B

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Question: 2

Which political party/alliance formed the first coalition government in December 1989 ?

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The National Front led by Janata Dal (with V.P. Singh as PM) formed the central coalition government in December 1989, supported from outside by both the BJP and the Left Front.

Updated On: Aug 11, 2026

National Conference
National Front
Indian National Congress
United Front

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The Correct Option is B

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Question: 3

Which one of the following regional parties never formed a government in any state ?

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While BSP (UP), DMK (Tamil Nadu), and Shiromani Akali Dal (Punjab) have repeatedly formed state governments, Bharatiya Kranti Dal existed briefly during the coalition era of the late 1960s before merging into larger fronts.

Updated On: Aug 11, 2026

Bahujan Samaj Party
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
Bharatiya Kranti Dal
Shiromani Akali Dal

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The Correct Option is C

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Question: 4

Which party was the largest party in the Lok Sabha after the 1989 elections ?

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Even though the National Front formed the government in 1989, the Indian National Congress was actually the single largest individual party in the Lok Sabha with 197 seats.

Updated On: Aug 11, 2026