Class 12 Political Science Chapter 14 Question Answer | Regional Aspirations | English Medium | ASSEB
Welcome to HSLC Guru. This article provides complete English-medium question and answer solutions for ASSEB Class 12 Political Science (Politics in India Since Independence) Chapter 14 — Regional Aspirations. The chapter examines how regional identities — linguistic, cultural, ethnic and religious — have shaped the politics of independent India, with detailed case studies of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, the Northeast, and the Dravidian movement in Tamil Nadu, and how the Indian federal democracy has accommodated these aspirations.
About the Chapter
India is a vast country marked by enormous regional diversity. After Independence, accommodating regional aspirations within a single democratic and federal framework became one of the central challenges of nation-building. This chapter studies four major regions where such aspirations took the form of mass movements, sometimes peaceful and sometimes violent — Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, the Northeast, and Tamil Nadu. It shows that democratic politics, dialogue and constitutional flexibility have generally proved more effective than force in resolving regional conflicts.
Summary
Jammu and Kashmir: The princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, with a Muslim majority and a Hindu ruler Maharaja Hari Singh, became part of India through the Instrument of Accession signed on 26 October 1947 after Pakistan-backed tribal raiders invaded the state. Article 370 of the Indian Constitution gave the state a special autonomous status, allowing it its own constitution and limiting the Union Parliament’s law-making power to defence, foreign affairs and communications. Sheikh Abdullah, head of the National Conference, became the Prime Minister of the state. In 1953 he was dismissed and arrested by the central government on charges of losing trust. After years of political instability, the rigged 1987 state elections triggered an insurgency from 1989, supported by Pakistan, leading to militancy, the displacement of Kashmiri Pandits and a long phase of violence.
Punjab: The 1966 reorganisation created the Punjabi-speaking state of Punjab (the “Punjabi Suba”), with Haryana and Himachal Pradesh carved out. By the late 1970s, a section of Sikh community led by the Akali Dal raised the Anandpur Sahib Resolution (1973) demanding greater autonomy. Extremist groups led by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale began an armed Khalistan movement demanding a separate Sikh nation. In June 1984, the Government of India launched Operation Blue Star to flush out militants from the Golden Temple in Amritsar, which deeply hurt Sikh sentiments. On 31 October 1984, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards, followed by horrific anti-Sikh riots in Delhi and elsewhere. The Rajiv–Longowal Accord of 1985 and gradual return to electoral politics restored peace in Punjab by the 1990s.
Northeast India: The Northeast comprises seven (now eight) states with diverse tribal and ethnic populations. Three issues dominated its politics — demands for autonomy, secessionist movements, and opposition to “outsiders”. Assam witnessed the Assam Movement (1979-85) led by AASU and AAGSP against illegal Bangladeshi migrants, culminating in the Assam Accord (1985). Nagaland saw a long-running secessionist insurgency under A. Z. Phizo since the 1950s, with the Shillong Accord (1975) and later ceasefires. Mizoram faced a 20-year insurgency by the Mizo National Front under Laldenga, ending with the historic Mizo Accord of 1986 that made Mizoram a full state. New states such as Meghalaya, Manipur, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim were also created to accommodate sub-regional aspirations.
Dravidian Movement and Tamil Nadu: The Dravidian movement, rooted in the Self-Respect Movement of E. V. Ramaswamy “Periyar”, opposed Brahminical dominance and northern/Hindi imposition. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) emerged in 1949 under C. N. Annadurai. The 1965 anti-Hindi agitation propelled the DMK to power in 1967, ending Congress rule. The movement gradually gave up its early demand for a separate Dravida Nadu and worked within the federal framework, becoming a model for regional parties.
National Integration: The Indian experience shows that regional aspirations are a natural part of democratic politics. Democratic negotiation, federal accommodation, creation of new states, and constitutional safeguards are the proven path to integration — not suppression. Regional parties, far from weakening Indian democracy, have strengthened federalism and given voice to local concerns.
সাৰাংশ (Assamese Summary)
স্বাধীনতাৰ পিছত ভাৰতৰ বিভিন্ন অঞ্চলত আঞ্চলিক আকাংক্ষাই ৰাজনীতিৰ এক গুৰুত্বপূৰ্ণ ৰূপ লৈছিল। জম্মু-কাশ্মীৰে ১৯৪৭ চনত ভাৰতত যোগদান কৰে আৰু সংবিধানৰ ৩৭০ অনুচ্ছেদে ইয়াক বিশেষ মৰ্যাদা প্ৰদান কৰিছিল; ১৯৫৩ চনত শ্বেখ আব্দুল্লাক বৰ্খাস্ত আৰু গ্ৰেপ্তাৰ কৰা হয়। পাঞ্জাৱত ১৯৬৬ চনত পঞ্জাৱী সুবা গঠন হয়; পিছলৈ খালিস্তান আন্দোলন, ১৯৮৪ চনৰ অপাৰেচন ব্লু ষ্টাৰ আৰু প্ৰধানমন্ত্ৰী ইন্দিৰা গান্ধীৰ হত্যা সংঘটিত হয়। উত্তৰ-পূবাঞ্চলত অসম, নাগালেণ্ড, মিজোৰাম আদি ৰাজ্যত বিদেশী সমস্যা, স্বায়ত্তশাসন আৰু বিচ্ছিন্নতাবাদৰ আন্দোলন চলিছিল। ১৯৭৯-৮৫ চনৰ অসম আন্দোলনৰ পৰিসমাপ্তি ১৯৮৫ চনৰ অসম চুক্তিৰে হয়। তামিলনাডুত দ্ৰাবিড় আন্দোলনে আঞ্চলিক ৰাজনীতিৰ এক আদৰ্শ স্থাপন কৰে। গণতান্ত্ৰিক সংলাপ, যুক্তৰাষ্ট্ৰীয় ব্যৱস্থা আৰু নতুন ৰাজ্য গঠনৰ যোগেদি ভাৰতে বহু আঞ্চলিক সংঘাত সমাধান কৰিছে।
NCERT Textbook Questions and Answers
Q1. Match the following:
| Column A | Column B |
| (a) Article 370 | (i) Special status to Jammu and Kashmir |
| (b) Khalistan | (ii) Demand for separate Sikh nation |
| (c) Operation Blue Star | (iii) Golden Temple, 1984 |
| (d) Assam Accord | (iv) 1985, foreigners issue |
| (e) Mizo Accord | (v) 1986, statehood for Mizoram |
Q2. What were the main provisions of the Assam Accord (1985)? How far has it succeeded in solving the problem?
Answer: The Assam Accord was signed on 15 August 1985 between the Government of India led by Rajiv Gandhi and the leaders of the Assam Movement (AASU and AAGSP). Its main provisions were: (i) foreigners who entered Assam between 1951 and 1961 were to be given full citizenship; (ii) those who entered between 1961 and 24 March 1971 were to be given citizenship but denied voting rights for ten years; (iii) those who entered after 25 March 1971 were to be deported; (iv) economic development of Assam, protection of Assamese language and culture, and an oil refinery and other projects were promised. The Accord ended six years of agitation and brought peace, but the problem of detection and deportation of illegal migrants remained unresolved, and disputes over the National Register of Citizens (NRC) continue to date.
Q3. All regional movements need not lead to separatism. Substantiate your answer with examples from the Indian experience.
Answer: India’s experience clearly shows that most regional movements have ended in democratic accommodation rather than separatism. The Dravidian movement, which once demanded a separate Dravida Nadu, gave up that demand and worked within the Indian federal system, with regional parties like DMK and AIADMK ruling Tamil Nadu and even joining national coalitions. The Mizo National Front, which fought a 20-year armed insurgency, signed the Mizo Accord in 1986 and Laldenga became Chief Minister of Mizoram. The Akali Dal in Punjab, after the dark years of militancy, returned to electoral politics. The Telangana, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh statehood demands were resolved through creation of new states. These examples show that democratic dialogue, federalism and creation of new states have consistently transformed regional aspirations into mainstream politics.
Q4. Regionalism need not always be construed as a threat to national integration. Explain.
Answer: Regionalism, when expressed through democratic means, is not a threat but a strength of Indian democracy. It gives voice to local cultures, languages and concerns that may otherwise be ignored at the national level. Regional parties have deepened federalism, brought governance closer to the people, and made the political system more representative. The peaceful resolution of statehood demands, linguistic reorganisation, and growth of strong regional parties show that regional identities can coexist with a strong national identity. Only when regionalism takes an extreme, secessionist or violent turn does it threaten national unity — and even then, the answer lies in democratic engagement, not suppression.
Q5. Why was Article 370 inserted in the Indian Constitution? Should it be retained or done away with?
Answer: Article 370 was inserted in the Indian Constitution because of the special circumstances under which Jammu and Kashmir acceded to India in 1947. Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession giving the Union control only over defence, foreign affairs and communications, and Jawaharlal Nehru’s government promised to respect the autonomous wishes of the Kashmiri people. Hence J&K was given a special status — its own constitution, its own flag, and Parliament’s law-making power was restricted. Supporters argued the Article respected the unique history of the state and the sentiments of its people. Critics felt it kept the state psychologically separate and hindered full integration. (Note: Article 370 was abrogated by the Indian Parliament on 5 August 2019 and J&K was reorganised into two Union Territories.)
Q6. The Anandpur Sahib Resolution. What were its main demands?
Answer: The Anandpur Sahib Resolution was passed by the Akali Dal in 1973. It demanded greater autonomy for Punjab and the states in general, with the Union government having jurisdiction only over defence, foreign affairs, communications and currency. It also asserted that Sikhs were a distinct community and called for the protection of Sikh interests. The resolution was a complex political document that was later interpreted in extreme ways by some who used it to support the demand for Khalistan, although the original document fell within the federal framework of the Constitution.
Q7. Trace the major developments in Mizoram and explain why the Mizo Accord is a major achievement.
Answer: Mizoram was a district of Assam where the Mizos felt neglected, especially after the great famine (mautam) of 1959 when the Assam government’s relief efforts were considered inadequate. In 1961, Laldenga formed the Mizo National Front (MNF), which began an armed insurgency for independence in 1966. The Indian government responded with military force, and Mizoram remained troubled for two decades. Finally, in 1986, the Mizo Peace Accord was signed between Rajiv Gandhi’s government and Laldenga; Mizoram was made a full state in 1987 and Laldenga became its first Chief Minister. The Accord is a major achievement because it ended a 20-year insurgency through dialogue, brought lasting peace, and successfully integrated a once-secessionist movement into democratic politics.
Short Answer Type Questions
Q1. What is the Instrument of Accession?
Answer: The Instrument of Accession was the legal document signed by Maharaja Hari Singh of Jammu and Kashmir on 26 October 1947 to formally accede the princely state to the Dominion of India, transferring jurisdiction over defence, foreign affairs and communications to the Government of India.
Q2. Who was Sheikh Abdullah?
Answer: Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah was the founder of the National Conference and the most popular leader of Jammu and Kashmir. He became the first Prime Minister of the state in 1948, was dismissed and arrested in 1953, and after a long phase of incarceration and political negotiation, returned as Chief Minister in 1975 following the Indira–Sheikh Accord.
Q3. What was Operation Blue Star?
Answer: Operation Blue Star was a military operation carried out by the Indian Army in June 1984 on the orders of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to flush out armed Sikh militants led by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale from the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar. The operation succeeded militarily but caused severe damage to the Akal Takht and deeply hurt Sikh religious sentiments worldwide.
Q4. What was the Punjabi Suba demand?
Answer: The Punjabi Suba was the demand for a separate Punjabi-speaking state, raised primarily by the Akali Dal after the linguistic reorganisation of states in 1956. It was finally accepted in 1966 when Punjab was trifurcated into Punjab (Punjabi-speaking), Haryana (Hindi-speaking) and the hill areas were merged with Himachal Pradesh.
Q5. What was the Assam Movement?
Answer: The Assam Movement (1979–1985) was a six-year-long mass agitation led by the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and the All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad (AAGSP) against the influx of illegal migrants from Bangladesh. It demanded detection, deletion from electoral rolls, and deportation of foreigners. It ended with the signing of the Assam Accord on 15 August 1985.
Q6. Who was Laldenga?
Answer: Laldenga was the founder and leader of the Mizo National Front (MNF), which led an armed insurgency for independence from India from 1966 to 1986. After signing the Mizo Peace Accord with Rajiv Gandhi in 1986, he became the first Chief Minister of the state of Mizoram in 1987.
Q7. What is meant by the Dravidian Movement?
Answer: The Dravidian Movement was a social and political movement in South India, rooted in the Self-Respect Movement of E. V. Ramaswamy “Periyar”. It opposed Brahminical caste hierarchy and the imposition of Hindi/northern dominance, and sought to assert Tamil cultural identity. It gave rise to the DMK (1949) and later the AIADMK, both of which became dominant regional parties in Tamil Nadu.
Q8. What was the Shillong Accord?
Answer: The Shillong Accord was signed in November 1975 between the Government of India and a section of the Naga underground, where the Naga groups agreed to accept the Indian Constitution and surrender arms. However, several Naga factions did not accept the Accord and the insurgency continued, leading to subsequent ceasefires and ongoing peace negotiations.
Q9. Who was Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale?
Answer: Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale was a Sikh religious leader who became the face of Sikh militancy in Punjab in the early 1980s. He fortified himself inside the Golden Temple in Amritsar with armed followers and was killed during Operation Blue Star in June 1984.
Q10. What was the Anti-Hindi agitation of 1965?
Answer: The Anti-Hindi agitation of 1965 was a major protest in Tamil Nadu against the proposed imposition of Hindi as the sole official language of India from 26 January 1965. It was led by Tamil students and the DMK, and forced the central government to amend the Official Languages Act so that English would continue along with Hindi. The agitation propelled the DMK to power in 1967.
Long Answer Type Questions
Q1. Discuss the major political developments in Jammu and Kashmir from 1947 to the late 1980s.
Answer: At the time of Independence, Jammu and Kashmir was a princely state with a Hindu ruler, Maharaja Hari Singh, and a Muslim majority population. The Maharaja initially wished to remain independent but, following the invasion by Pakistan-backed tribal raiders in October 1947, signed the Instrument of Accession to India on 26 October 1947. Indian troops were airlifted to defend Srinagar. The accession was followed by the inclusion of Article 370 in the Constitution, granting the state special autonomous status. Sheikh Abdullah became Prime Minister of the state and led the popular government of the National Conference. In 1953, after differences with the Centre, he was dismissed and arrested by the Centre. The next two decades saw a series of unstable governments and continued central interference. The 1974 Indira–Sheikh Accord brought Sheikh Abdullah back as Chief Minister. After his death in 1982, his son Farooq Abdullah took over but his government was dismissed in 1984. The 1987 elections were widely believed to have been rigged, leading to disillusionment and giving rise to a militant insurgency from 1989 onwards, supported by Pakistan, accompanied by the displacement of Kashmiri Pandits and prolonged violence in the Valley.
Q2. Trace the rise and decline of militancy in Punjab.
Answer: The Punjab crisis grew out of a complex mix of religious, regional and political grievances. After the formation of the Punjabi Suba in 1966, the Akali Dal raised demands for greater state autonomy, articulated in the Anandpur Sahib Resolution of 1973. By the late 1970s and early 1980s, a section of Sikh youth, led by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, took up arms and demanded a separate Sikh nation, “Khalistan”. Militants used the Golden Temple complex as their base. In June 1984, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi ordered Operation Blue Star to flush them out. The operation, though militarily successful, caused great damage to the Akal Takht and outraged Sikhs worldwide. On 31 October 1984, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her two Sikh bodyguards, triggering anti-Sikh riots in Delhi and other cities in which thousands of Sikhs were killed. The Rajiv–Longowal Accord of July 1985 promised the transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab and other concessions, but Longowal was assassinated soon after. Through the late 1980s militancy continued, but by the early 1990s, due to a combination of police action, public weariness with violence, and the return of electoral politics, peace was restored to Punjab.
Q3. What were the major regional issues in Northeast India? How did the Indian state respond to them?
Answer: The Northeast faced three broad types of regional issues. First, demands for autonomy from larger states by smaller ethnic and tribal groups — these led to the creation of new states such as Meghalaya, Manipur, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram out of the original Assam, and Sikkim’s merger in 1975. Second, secessionist insurgencies — most notably in Nagaland under A. Z. Phizo from the early 1950s, and in Mizoram under Laldenga’s MNF from 1966 to 1986. Third, the issue of “outsiders” — opposition to migration from neighbouring states and from Bangladesh, which fuelled the Assam Movement (1979–85) and similar agitations elsewhere. The Indian state’s response combined military action against insurgents with political dialogue and constitutional accommodation. Major peace settlements such as the Mizo Accord (1986), the Assam Accord (1985), the Shillong Accord (1975) and various ceasefires with Naga groups demonstrated the strategy of converting armed conflicts into electoral politics. The reorganisation of the region into multiple states allowed sub-regional aspirations to find expression within the federal framework.
Q4. Discuss the rise of the Dravidian Movement and its impact on Indian federalism.
Answer: The Dravidian movement originated in the early 20th century as a social reform movement among the non-Brahmin communities of the Madras Presidency. Under E. V. Ramaswamy “Periyar”, it crystallised into the Self-Respect Movement, opposing Brahminical dominance and the perceived hegemony of north Indian (Aryan/Hindi) culture. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), founded in 1949 by C. N. Annadurai, took up Tamil nationalism and initially demanded a separate Dravida Nadu. The 1965 anti-Hindi agitation was a turning point — it demonstrated mass support for the protection of Tamil identity and brought the DMK to power in 1967, ending nearly two decades of Congress rule. Importantly, the DMK gave up its separatist demand and worked within the Indian federal system. A split led to the formation of the AIADMK in 1972, and these two parties have since alternated in power in Tamil Nadu. The Dravidian movement’s success became a model for other regional parties, deepening Indian federalism and showing that strong regional identities can coexist with national unity.
Q5. “Democracy is the best way to deal with regional aspirations.” Explain with reference to the Indian experience.
Answer: The Indian experience strongly supports the view that democratic accommodation, rather than suppression, is the best way to handle regional aspirations. Wherever the state has relied primarily on force, conflicts have prolonged and deepened — as in Kashmir, Nagaland, and Punjab during the militancy years. Wherever the state has combined dialogue with constitutional flexibility — creating new states, signing peace accords, allowing regional parties to govern — peace and integration have followed. The Mizo Accord, Assam Accord, Telangana statehood, and the success of regional parties in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and elsewhere all illustrate this. Democracy gives regional groups legitimate political space, enabling them to pursue their aspirations through elections, debate and policy, instead of armed struggle. India’s continued unity in the face of vast diversity is itself testimony to the strength of democratic federalism.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. Jammu and Kashmir acceded to India on:
(a) 15 August 1947 (b) 26 October 1947 (c) 26 January 1950 (d) 14 August 1947
Answer: (b) 26 October 1947
2. Article 370 of the Constitution dealt with:
(a) Special status of Nagaland (b) Special status of Jammu and Kashmir (c) Emergency provisions (d) Fundamental Rights
Answer: (b) Special status of Jammu and Kashmir
3. Sheikh Abdullah was the leader of:
(a) Akali Dal (b) National Conference (c) Mizo National Front (d) DMK
Answer: (b) National Conference
4. Sheikh Abdullah was dismissed and arrested in:
(a) 1948 (b) 1950 (c) 1953 (d) 1975
Answer: (c) 1953
5. The state of Punjab was reorganised on linguistic lines in:
(a) 1956 (b) 1960 (c) 1966 (d) 1972
Answer: (c) 1966
6. The Anandpur Sahib Resolution was passed in:
(a) 1966 (b) 1973 (c) 1980 (d) 1985
Answer: (b) 1973
7. Operation Blue Star took place in:
(a) June 1984 (b) October 1984 (c) November 1984 (d) August 1985
Answer: (a) June 1984
8. Indira Gandhi was assassinated on:
(a) 31 October 1984 (b) 31 October 1985 (c) 6 June 1984 (d) 21 May 1991
Answer: (a) 31 October 1984
9. The Rajiv–Longowal Accord was signed in:
(a) 1984 (b) 1985 (c) 1986 (d) 1987
Answer: (b) 1985
10. The Assam Accord was signed on:
(a) 26 January 1985 (b) 15 August 1985 (c) 31 October 1984 (d) 14 August 1986
Answer: (b) 15 August 1985
11. The Assam Movement was led by:
(a) AIUDF and Asom Gana Parishad (b) AASU and AAGSP (c) ULFA and NDFB (d) Congress and CPI
Answer: (b) AASU and AAGSP
12. The cut-off date for detection of foreigners in the Assam Accord is:
(a) 26 January 1950 (b) 1 January 1966 (c) 25 March 1971 (d) 15 August 1985
Answer: (c) 25 March 1971
13. The Mizo National Front was led by:
(a) A. Z. Phizo (b) Laldenga (c) Sangma (d) Khandu
Answer: (b) Laldenga
14. The Mizo Accord was signed in:
(a) 1985 (b) 1986 (c) 1987 (d) 1990
Answer: (b) 1986
15. Mizoram became a full state of India in:
(a) 1972 (b) 1986 (c) 1987 (d) 1990
Answer: (c) 1987
16. The leader of the Naga secessionist movement was:
(a) Laldenga (b) A. Z. Phizo (c) Bhindranwale (d) Periyar
Answer: (b) A. Z. Phizo
17. Sikkim merged with India in:
(a) 1971 (b) 1975 (c) 1985 (d) 1987
Answer: (b) 1975
18. The DMK was founded in 1949 by:
(a) Periyar (b) C. N. Annadurai (c) M. G. Ramachandran (d) M. Karunanidhi
Answer: (b) C. N. Annadurai
19. The anti-Hindi agitation in Tamil Nadu took place in:
(a) 1947 (b) 1956 (c) 1965 (d) 1972
Answer: (c) 1965
20. The Self-Respect Movement was led by:
(a) C. N. Annadurai (b) E. V. Ramaswamy “Periyar” (c) Karunanidhi (d) MGR
Answer: (b) E. V. Ramaswamy “Periyar”
21. Haryana was carved out of Punjab in:
(a) 1956 (b) 1960 (c) 1966 (d) 1972
Answer: (c) 1966
22. The Khalistan movement demanded:
(a) Greater state autonomy for Punjab (b) Linguistic reorganisation (c) A separate Sikh nation (d) Withdrawal of Article 370
Answer: (c) A separate Sikh nation
23. The Shillong Accord was signed in:
(a) 1972 (b) 1975 (c) 1985 (d) 1986
Answer: (b) 1975
24. Article 370 was abrogated in:
(a) 2014 (b) 2017 (c) 2019 (d) 2020
Answer: (c) 2019
25. The DMK first came to power in Tamil Nadu in:
(a) 1957 (b) 1962 (c) 1967 (d) 1972
Answer: (c) 1967
Major Regional Movements in India
| Region | Movement / Issue | Period | Key Leaders / Outcome |
| Jammu & Kashmir | Special status, Article 370, militancy | 1947 onwards | Sheikh Abdullah; militancy from 1989; Article 370 abrogated 2019 |
| Punjab | Punjabi Suba, Khalistan, Operation Blue Star | 1966–1990s | Akali Dal, Bhindranwale; Rajiv–Longowal Accord 1985 |
| Assam | Anti-foreigners agitation | 1979–1985 | AASU, AAGSP; Assam Accord 1985 |
| Nagaland | Secessionist insurgency | 1950s onwards | A. Z. Phizo; Shillong Accord 1975; ongoing peace talks |
| Mizoram | Mizo insurgency | 1966–1986 | Laldenga (MNF); Mizo Accord 1986; statehood 1987 |
| Tamil Nadu | Dravidian/anti-Hindi movement | 1920s onwards | Periyar, Annadurai; DMK in power 1967 |
| Sikkim | Merger with India | 1975 | Became 22nd state of India |
Key Terms
| Term | Meaning |
| Regionalism | The expression of a distinctive regional identity, leading to political demands for greater regional rights or autonomy |
| Article 370 | Constitutional provision that gave special autonomous status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir until its abrogation in 2019 |
| Instrument of Accession | Legal document by which princely states acceded to India or Pakistan in 1947 |
| Khalistan | Demand for a separate sovereign Sikh nation, raised by extremist groups in Punjab in the 1980s |
| Operation Blue Star | 1984 Indian Army operation to remove armed militants from the Golden Temple in Amritsar |
| Anandpur Sahib Resolution | 1973 Akali Dal resolution demanding greater autonomy for Punjab and protection of Sikh interests |
| Assam Accord | Tripartite agreement of 15 August 1985 ending the six-year Assam Movement against illegal migrants |
| Mizo Accord | 1986 peace accord ending the Mizo insurgency and paving the way for Mizoram’s statehood |
| Shillong Accord | 1975 agreement between the Centre and a section of the Naga underground |
| Self-Respect Movement | Social reform movement led by Periyar against caste and Brahminical dominance in South India |
| Dravida Nadu | Demand for a separate state for Dravidian-speaking people, later given up by the DMK |
| National Integration | Process of welding together different regions, communities and identities into a single national consciousness |
| Federalism | System of government in which power is constitutionally divided between a central authority and constituent units |
| Secessionism | Demand for separation from the existing state to form a new sovereign country |
| Plebiscite | A direct vote by the people on an important political question, such as accession or independence |