NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Political Science, Chapter 5 - Contemporary South Asia

In this chapter, you’ll study about the relations between various South Asian countries such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. You’ll learn about the political history and current political and economic scenario of these countries and their relationships – conflicts as well as agreements with India. You’ll come across various treaties signed time to time between these South Asian countries and their attempt to create a peaceful and cordial environment despite various conflicts and disagreements prevailing till today.

Thus, an in-depth study of Chapter 5 Political Science Class 12 will give you a good understanding of Contemporary South Asia.

Let’s take a look at topics and sub-topics of Class 12 Political Science Chapter 5 – Contemporary South Asia

• What Is South Asia

• The Military and Democracy in Pakistan

• Democracy in Bangladesh

• Monarchy and Democracy in Nepal

• Ethnic Conflict and Democracy in Sri Lanka

• India-Pakistan Conflicts

• India and Its Other Neighbours

• Peace and Cooperation

In Chapter 5 Political Science Class 12, you will learn – 

• What Is South Asia – In this section, you will study what South Asia is all about, which countries come under South Asia, the nature of politics of the seven South-Asian countries such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, striking similarities and differences among these countries and aspiration for democracy among South Asian countries.

• The Military and Democracy in Pakistan – In this section, you’ll acquire knowledge about why General Ayub Khan had to resign and how the military rule came into force in Pakistan under General Yahya Khan.  You’ll also learn why and how East Pakistan divided into an independent country called Bangladesh, the power that was taken over by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto from 1971-1977, the further democratic government formed by Benazir Bhutto in 1988. You’ll also acquire knowledge about the reasons for failure of democratic government in Pakistan, and continuous conflicts between Pakistan and India.

• Democracy in Bangladesh – In this section, you’ll study about when and how Bangladesh was formed consisting of the partitioned regions of Assam and Bengal. You’ll also come across the reasons of war between India and Pakistan in 1971, the new constitution drafted by Bangladesh, military rule by Ziaur Rahman, his assassination and leadership taken over by Lt Gen H. M. Ershadin 1991. You’ll also study about Bangladesh’s faith in democracy and strong attempts to make it a democratic country.

• Monarchy and Democracy in Nepal – In this section, you’ll learn about the political scenario of Nepal over the years. You’ll come across king’s acceptance for democracy in Nepal in 1990, the strong influence of Maoists of Nepal, pro-democratic protests in Nepal, Nepal becoming a democratic republic in 2008 after removing monarchy and adoption of a new constitution in 2015.

• Ethnic Conflict and Democracy in Sri Lanka –In this section, you’ll learn about Sri Lanka and its political scene and serious threats experienced from the ethnic conflict. You’ll study about the Sinhala nationalists who wanted Tamils out of Sri Lanka, leading to the formation of militant Tamil nationalism on the other side – the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) fighting for a separate country for the Tamils in Sri Lanka. Finally, you will study about India’s attempt in minimizing the conflicts between the ethnic group and Tamils in Sri Lanka.

• India-Pakistan Conflicts – In this section, you’ll study the conflicts between India and Pakistan in detail. You are already aware of the tension that prevails between the two countries sometimes related to Kashmir and sometimes over some other issues like the Siachen glacier, acquisition of arms, demarcation line in Sir creek in the Rann of Kutch. You’ll also study the nuclear tests done by both the countries and Indus waters treaty signed under the World Bank.

• India and Its Other Neighbours – In this section, you’ll study about the reasons for various conflicts between the governments of India and Bangladesh, warm relations between India and Nepal and the treaty between the two. You’ll also study the cordial relations between India and Bhutan and also India and Maldives without any major conflicts.

• Peace and Cooperation – In this section, you’ll study about the relations between these south-east countries under the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the idea of SAFTA (an agreement signed in 2004) to allow free trade among the South East Asian countries by lowering the trade tariffs and more.

In this chapter, you are provided with several images and timelines to have a clear understanding of Contemporary South Asia. To know more about Political Science Chapter 5 you should explore the exercises mentioned in this chapter. You can also download the Contemporary South Asia NCERT Solutions PDF, solved by our experts.