Category 31 · Modern History

The Nehru Era, 1947-64

8 micro topics in Modern History for UPSC Prelims, in book order: Debate Over the National Language; Linguistic Reorganisation of States; and 6 more.

1. 31.1

   Debate Over the National Language

   At independence eleven languages were each spoken by more than a million people, and the choice of an official language to replace English was contested. The Constituent Assembly's compromise made Hindi in Devanagari script the official…

2. 31.2

   Linguistic Reorganisation of States

   The demand for states on a linguistic basis surfaced right after independence. The Dhar Commission of 1948 and the JVP Committee of December 1948 opposed it in the interest of national unity, but Potti Sriramulu's death…

3. 31.3

   Growth of Other Political Parties

   Through the 1950s and 1960s the Congress ruled the Centre and most states, but other parties grew: the socialists (CSP, PSP, SSP), the communists (who split into CPI and CPM in 1964), the Bharatiya Jana Sangh,…

4. 31.4

   Planning for Economic Development and Progress in Science and Technology

   Nehru chose state-guided planning through democratic means, with the Planning Commission set up in March 1950 and the National Development Council in August 1952. The First Plan (1951-56) stressed agriculture and irrigation, the Second (Mahalanobis) heavy…

5. 31.5

   Social Developments and Education Under Nehru

   In 1951 only 16.6 per cent of Indians were literate. Under Nehru the Radhakrishnan Commission (1949), the University Grants Commission (1953; Act 1956), the Mudaliar Commission (1952) and NCERT (1961) shaped education, and the number of…

6. 31.6

   India and Pakistan, 1947-64

   Relations between India and Pakistan from 1947 to 1964 centred on Kashmir, which acceded to India on 26 October 1947 and was taken to the UN Security Council in January 1948, producing a ceasefire on 1…

7. 31.7

   India and China, 1947-62

   India recognised the People's Republic of China in 1949 and supported its admission to the UN, but China entered Tibet in 1950, India accepted its position in the 1954 Panchsheel agreement, the Dalai Lama fled to…

8. 31.8

   India and Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka

   India signed a treaty with Nepal in July 1950 recognising its sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence, and a treaty of perpetual peace and friendship with Bhutan in August 1949 under which India would not interfere in…

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Frequently asked questions

Which topics are in The Nehru Era, 1947-64?

The Nehru Era, 1947-64 has 8 micro topics in Modern History: Debate Over the National Language; Linguistic Reorganisation of States; Growth of Other Political Parties; Planning for Economic Development and Progress in Science and Technology; Social Developments and Education Under Nehru; India and Pakistan, 1947-64; India and China, 1947-62; India and Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka.

Is The Nehru Era, 1947-64 important for UPSC Prelims?

The Nehru Era, 1947-64 is a part of the UPSC Prelims Modern History syllabus map on MaargX UPSC. Each of its 8 published topics has key terms, a Mains angle and practice questions.