Political Parties (Indian Polity and Governance)

Total Questions: 54

11. The Nationalist Congress Party was formed in 1999 following the split in: [Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2013]

Correct Answer: (b) Congress Party
Solution:The NCP was formed on June 10, 1999 by Sharad Pawar, P. A. Sangma, and Tariq Anwar after they were expelled from the Indian National Congress (INC), following the dispute relating to Sonia Gandhi’s foreign origin.

Foundation of Indian National Congress (INC)

  • The formation of a national organisation had been anticipated for some time, but a mediator was needed to unify regional leaders under one umbrella.
  • A.O. Hume, a retired British civil servant with a supra-regional identity and liberal political views, played this critical role.
  • Touring the subcontinent, he convinced prominent leaders to convene at a national conference, initially planned in Poona but later moved to Bombay due to a cholera outbreak.
  • Thus, in December 1885, at a convention of 72 delegates, the Indian National Congress (INC) was established as a national political forum.
  • However, the formation of this all-India organisation stirred controversies, including the Safety-valve Theory.
  • The first president of the Indian National Congress was Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee. He presided over the inaugural session of the Congress held in Bombay (now Mumbai) in December 1885

12. Which of the following political parties is/are national political parties? [I.A.S. (Pre) 1995]

  1. Muslims League
  2. Revolutionary Socialist Party
  3. All India Forward Block
  4. Peasants and Workers Party of India
Correct Answer: (d) None of these
Solution:Currently, there are total 6 parties in India which satisfy the condition for being a National Party. These are- Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), Indian National Congress (INC), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI (M)), and National People's Party. Out of the given political parties, no political party satisfies the condition for being a National Party. Thus, option (d) is the correct answer.
  • A political party would be considered (if it satisfies any of the below conditions) a national party if:
  • it is 'recognised' in four or more states as a state party; or
  • if its candidates polled at least 6% of total valid votes in any four or more states in the last Lok Sabha or Assembly elections and has at least
    four MPs in the last Lok Sabha polls; or
  • if it has won at least 2% of the total seats in the Lok Sabha from not less than three states.

13. Which one of the following has been recognised as National Party in 2016? [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]

Correct Answer: (c) T.M.C.
Solution:On 2 September, 2016 the Election Commission provided the national party status to the Trinamool Congress Party (All India Trinamool Congress). Currently, India has six recognised national parties. But in the current scenario, TMC is not a National Party.
  • A political party would be considered (if it satisfies any of the below conditions) a national party if:
  • it is 'recognised' in four or more states as a state party; or
  • if its candidates polled at least 6% of total valid votes in any four or more states in the last Lok Sabha or Assembly elections and has at least
    four MPs in the last Lok Sabha polls; or
  • if it has won at least 2% of the total seats in the Lok Sabha from not less than three states.

14. After the formation of Bharatiya Janata Party, who became its first President? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2014]

Correct Answer: (b) A.B. Vajpayee
Solution:Atal Bihari Vajpayee became the first President of Bharatiya Janata Party in 1980. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee (1901-1953) was the Founder of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh. The BJP is the successor Party of the Bharatiya Jan Sangh.

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured majority in the 2014, 2019, and 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Although the BJP was able to secure a majority on its own in the 2014 and 2019 elections, it fell short of the 272 seats it needed to secure a majority on its own in the 2024 elections.

15. Which of the following political parties is not a national party as recognized by the Election Commission of India? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2008]

Correct Answer: (d) Samajwadi Party
Solution:Samajwadi Party is not a national party recognized by the Election Commission of India. Samajwadi Party came into existence on October 4, 1992 in Lucknow under the leadership of Mulayam Singh Yadav.
  • A political party would be considered (if it satisfies any of the below conditions) a national party if:
  • it is 'recognised' in four or more states as a state party; or
  • if its candidates polled at least 6% of total valid votes in any four or more states in the last Lok Sabha or Assembly elections and has at least
    four MPs in the last Lok Sabha polls; or
  • if it has won at least 2% of the total seats in the Lok Sabha from not less than three states.

16. Which of the following is a Regional Political party? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2008]

Correct Answer: (d) Akali Dal
Solution:Akali Dal (Shiromani Akali Dal) is a regional political party of Punjab.

Regional Party is a political party that operates primarily within a small geographic area and its activities are limited to a single or a few states. Regional parties have emerged in India at regular periods to play various roles in the country's parliamentary system. The presence of a vast number of regional parties is one of the most noticeable elements of the Indian Multi-Party System. Examples of Regional Parties include Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and so on.

17. Which one of the following parties is not a National Political Party? [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2009]

Correct Answer: (c) Telugu Desham
Solution:Telugu Desham Party (TDP) is a regional party of Andhra Pradesh.
  • A political party would be considered (if it satisfies any of the below conditions) a national party if:
  • it is 'recognised' in four or more states as a state party; or
  • if its candidates polled at least 6% of total valid votes in any four or more states in the last Lok Sabha or Assembly elections and has at least
    four MPs in the last Lok Sabha polls; or
  • if it has won at least 2% of the total seats in the Lok Sabha from not less than three states.

18. Aam Aadmi party is a: [65th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2019]

Correct Answer: (e) None of the above/More than one of the above
Solution:The Aam Aadmi Party is a state level registered party, as all Political Parties are registered. Hence it is also a registered party. Hence, option (e) is the appropriate answer. But in current scenario the Aam Aadmi Party is national party.
  • A political party would be considered (if it satisfies any of the below conditions) a national party if:
  • it is 'recognised' in four or more states as a state party; or
  • if its candidates polled at least 6% of total valid votes in any four or more states in the last Lok Sabha or Assembly elections and has at least
    four MPs in the last Lok Sabha polls; or
  • if it has won at least 2% of the total seats in the Lok Sabha from not less than three states.

19. Who was the founder of 'Independent Labour Party'? [U.P. Lower sub. (Pre) 2009]

Correct Answer: (b) B. R. Ambedkar
Solution:Independent Labour Party (ILP) was an Indian political organization formed under the leadership of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar in August 1936.

Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, also known as the "Architect of the Indian Constitution," was a pioneering leader, social reformer, and champion of Dalit rights. Born into a Dalit "untouchable" family, Ambedkar overcame immense social discrimination to become one of the most educated Indians of his time, earning doctorates in law and economics.
His contributions span across drafting the Indian Constitution, advocating for the rights of marginalized communities, and fighting tirelessly to end untouchability. As India's first Law Minister, he introduced reforms promoting social justice and equality. His legacy continues to inspire movements for equality and justice in India and beyond.

20. Which of the following parties were formed by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2012]

  1. The Peasants and Workers Party of India
  2. All India Scheduled Castes Federation
  3. The Independent Labour Party.

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

Correct Answer: (b) 2 & 3 Only
Solution:Dr. Ambedkar founded Samata Sainik Dal, the Independent Labour Party (1936), Scheduled Castes Federation (1942) and the Depressed Classes Federation (1930). The Peasants and Workers Party of India was founded in 1948 in Maharashtra.
It was a Marxist Political party. While the Workers and Peasants Party (PWP) was founded on November 1, 1925 by Kazi Nazrul Islam, Hemant Sarkar, Shamsuddin Hussain and Qutubuddin Ahmad. It was not founded by Dr. Ambedkar.
It worked under the Indian National Congress during 1925 to 1929.