Important Questions and Answers for Class 12 Political Science Chapter 4 India's External Relations 2025-26

1. Multiple choice questions.

Q1. Which principle best defined India’s external relations in the Nehruvian era?

• (a) Alignment with Western powers
• (b) Non-alignment
• (c) Military alliances
• (d) Closed economy

Answer: (b) Non-alignment.

Q2. India's relation with China faced a setback in 1962 mainly because of:

• (a) Border dispute
• (b) Economic rivalry
• (c) Nuclear test
• (d) Sports competition

Answer: (a) Border dispute.

Q3. Panchsheel refers to:

• (a) Five economic reforms
• (b) Five principles of peaceful coexistence
• (c) Five defence agreements
• (d) Five years of development

Answer: (b) Five principles of peaceful coexistence.

Q4. Non-alignment meant that India:

• (a) Remained isolated from world politics
• (b) Followed Soviet ideology only
• (c) Refused to align with either the US or USSR blocs
• (d) Supported only Asian countries

Answer: (c) Refused to align with either the US or USSR blocs.

2. Very Short Answer (VSA).

Q1. What is the basic idea behind India’s policy of non-alignment?

Answer: Non-alignment means not joining any military alliance or power bloc and maintaining independent foreign policy for peaceful and mutually beneficial relations.

Q2. Name the agreement signed between India and China in 1954.

Answer: The Panchsheel Agreement, also known as the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, was signed between India and China in 1954.

Q3. Which neighboring country was involved in the war with India in 1965?

Answer: Pakistan was the neighboring country that fought a war with India in 1965.

Q4. What is the ‘Look East’ policy?

Answer: The 'Look East' policy refers to India’s strategy to strengthen political, economic, and strategic relations with Southeast Asian countries.

3. Short Answer Questions.

Q1. Describe any two objectives of India’s foreign policy after independence.

Answer: The two major objectives were to preserve India’s sovereignty by avoiding involvement in Cold War alliances, and to promote economic development through peaceful co-existence and cooperation with other nations. India aimed at independent decision-making in international affairs and peaceful relations globally.

Q2. Why did the India-China relationship deteriorate in the early 1960s?

Answer: India-China relations worsened due to border disputes primarily over Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh. Differences over Tibet, mistrust, and the 1962 Chinese aggression led to a break in the previously cordial relationship, deeply impacting India’s security and foreign policy outlook.

Q3. Explain the significance of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between India and the Soviet Union in 1971.

Answer: The 1971 Treaty with the Soviet Union was significant because it provided India with security assurances during the Bangladesh Liberation War. It marked a shift from strict non-alignment toward practical partnerships in the face of national security challenges, influencing the balance of power in South Asia.

Q4. How did the Cold War affect India’s external relations?

Answer: During the Cold War, India followed non-alignment, seeking to avoid direct involvement with the US or USSR blocs. However, India maintained friendly relations with both sides to secure economic and technological cooperation, while upholding its own national interests.

4. True or False Questions.

Q1. Non-alignment meant India formed no alliance with any superpower bloc during the Cold War.

Answer: True.

Q2. India never faced any war with its neighboring countries between 1947 and 1971.

Answer: False.

Q3. Panchsheel was agreed upon between India and the United States.

Answer: False.

Q4. Strengthening economic relations was one of India’s foreign policy goals.

Answer: True.

3. Fill in the Blanks Questions.

Q1. The term 'non-alignment' means not joining any ________.

Answer: military bloc.

Q2. The Treaty of Peace and Friendship in 1971 was signed between India and ________.

Answer: the Soviet Union.

Q3. The 1962 war was fought between India and ________.

Answer: China.

Q4. The agreement of Panchsheel involved ________ principles.

Answer: five.

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