Chapter 9, Sections 2,3

1
Chapter 9, Sections 2,3

• Political Challenges
• And
• Economic Development

2
India is a parliamentary democracy. The real
power is the party of parliament who has the most
seats in parliament. The leader of that party is
the prime minister.
3
The Indian Constitution declared Untouchability
illegal, and outlawed discrimination against
them. Still upper caste members of society have
resisted the changes.
4
The Sikh Religion

• Blend of Hinduism and Islam.
• Teaches one god and rejects caste system
  altogether.
• Developed a strong military tradition to defend
  themselves.
• They want to break away from what they see as a
  Hindu-dominated nation.

5
Jawaharlal Nehru

• Led for 17 years after independence and wanted to
  create a casteless, secular nation. Set up
  schools and economic programs.

6
Indira Gandhi

• Nehrus daughter and successor. Wanted to
  modernize, but jailed opponents. Assassinated by
  her Sikh bodyguards.

7
Nehru employed some socialist tactics like
careful government regulation of the economy
taking control over the energy, transportation,
steel and mining industries five-year plans and
the limiting of foreign investment.
8

• Rising oil prices slowed growth in the 70s
  (India has few oil resources and so must import).
  So the government sought privatization.

9
During the 90s India had one of worlds fastest
growing economies. Foreign investment and
high-technology industries boomed.
10
Land Reform

• Landless peasants worked as tenant farmers. India
  set up land reform (redistributing land),limited
  size of farms, and sold surplus to tenant
  farmers.