The Indus Basin water dispute started due to the partition of
A) Sindh
B) Punjab
C) Bengal
D) Kashmir
Answer: B) Punjab.
Explanation: The Indus Basin water dispute arose as a consequence of the partition of Punjab in 1947. The partition of Punjab led to the division of the Indus River system, which was a major source of water for both India and Pakistan.
The rivers of the Indus Basin, including the Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej, were crucial for agriculture and irrigation in the region. The division of Punjab created complexities in water sharing and management, leading to tensions between the two countries over the equitable distribution of these vital water resources.
To address the dispute, the Indus Waters Treaty was signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, which allocated the rights to the various rivers of the Indus Basin between the two countries.
The outcomes of General Elections 1945-1946 in the subcontinent made the British realise that
A) Indian National Congress can lead the subcontinent.
B) Indians are content with the British rule in the subcontinent.
C) United India is a possibility after the British will leave the subcontinent.
D) All India Muslim League is the sole representative of the Muslims of India.
Answer: D) All India Muslim League is the sole representative of the Muslims of India.
Explanation: The General Elections of 1945-1946 had a significant impact on British perceptions of Indian politics. The outcomes of these elections demonstrated that the All India Muslim League had become the dominant political force representing the Muslim population in India. The Muslim League achieved substantial victories in Muslim-majority areas, which indicated its strong support base among Muslims.
This realization made it clear to the British that the Muslim League, led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, was a key player in the political landscape of India and that the demand for a separate Muslim state, Pakistan, was gaining considerable traction. This shift in political dynamics ultimately influenced the British decision to support the partition of India.
The clause that led to the unacceptance of Simla Conference 1945 by the All-India Muslim League was that
A) The constituent assembly will be formed after the end of World War II.
B) All portfolios except defence were to be under the control of Indian members.
C) There was unequal representation between Muslims and caste Hindus in the Executive
Council.
D) All the members of the Executive Council will be Indians except the Viceroy and
Commander-in-Chief.
Answer: C) There was unequal representation between Muslims and caste Hindus in the Executive Council.
Explanation: The Simla Conference of 1945 was convened to address political issues in British India and to discuss Lord Wavell’s plan for the future governance of India. The plan proposed a reconstitution of the Executive Council of the Viceroy, with an equal representation of Hindus and Muslims. However, the All-India Muslim League rejected the proposal primarily because it did not provide for adequate representation of Muslims compared to the caste Hindus in the Executive Council.
The Muslim League, led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, felt that the plan did not address their demands adequately, particularly the issue of fair representation for Muslims in the executive body. The conference’s failure to achieve an agreement on this critical issue furthered the divisions between the Muslim League and the British government, as well as the Indian National Congress.
In 1952, the step that was taken to regulate the refugee influx between India and Pakistan was the introduction of
A) Visa policy.
B) Immigration policy.
C) Border security policy.
D) People protection policy.
Answer: A) Visa policy.
Explanation: In 1952, to manage and regulate the movement of refugees and control the influx between India and Pakistan, the Visa policy was introduced. This policy was aimed at regulating the movement of people across the borders to address the ongoing issues related to refugee migration and ensure better control over cross-border movements.
The Visa policy was a significant step in handling the challenges posed by the large numbers of people who had moved during the partition of India in 1947 and to manage future movements more systematically.
Despite signing the Indus Waters Basin Treaty 1960, canal water is still a problem for Pakistan because
A) The treaty was not renewed timely due to political instability.
B) India has not maintained the restrictions put forward in the treaty.
C) The treaty was not adopted with the change in government in both the countries.
D) Pakistan has been unable to construct dams and link canals in the given time period.
Answer: B) India has not maintained the restrictions put forward in the treaty.
Explanation: The Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 was an agreement between India and Pakistan, brokered by the World Bank, to manage the sharing of the waters of the Indus River system. While the treaty was designed to allocate the use of the river waters between the two countries and reduce disputes, issues have arisen due to India’s construction of dams and other water management projects on rivers allocated to Pakistan under the treaty.
Pakistan has raised concerns that India has not fully adhered to the restrictions and provisions set forth in the treaty regarding the usage of water from the rivers allocated to Pakistan. This has led to ongoing disputes and issues with water availability for agriculture and other uses in Pakistan.
