History · Spectrum Books A Brief History of Modern India
Chapter 42 : Indira Gandhi: the Second Phase (January 1980-October 1984)
Table of contents37 sections
- 1.Indira Gandhi: the Second Phase (January 1980-October 1984)
- 2.Return to Power
- 3.Key Terms
- 4.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 5.Economy, Environment, and Science
- 6.Economic Planning and Programmes
- 7.Environmental Initiatives
- 8.India's Man in Space
- 9.Key Terms
- 10.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 11.Foreign Relations
- 12.Sri Lanka and Tamils' Problem
- 13.Pakistan: The Siachen Conflict
- 14.The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)
- 15.Key Terms
- 16.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 17.Unrest in the States
- 18.Key Terms
- 19.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 20.Punjab Turmoil and Operation Blue Star
- 21.Background and Causes
- 22.Escalation to Khalistan
- 23.Government Response and Fortification
- 24.Operation Blue Star (June 1984)
- 25.Aftermath
- 26.Key Terms
- 27.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 28.Indira Assassinated
- 29.Key Terms
- 30.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 31.Legacy
- 32.Society and Economy
- 33.Politics and Administration
- 34.Foreign Policy
- 35.Key Terms
- 36.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 37.Quick-Recall Box
Chapter preview
Indira Gandhi: the Second Phase (January 1980-October 1984)
Return to Power
- 1980 General Elections for the Seventh Lok Sabha resulted in the Congress (I) returning to power with a strong majority.
- Indira Gandhi won from two constituencies:
- Rae Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh
- Medak in Andhra Pradesh (She chose to retain this seat).
- She became Prime Minister and relied heavily on her younger son, Sanjay Gandhi, who was also elected to the Lok Sabha.
- June 1980: Sanjay Gandhi died after losing control of a plane while trying out stunts.
- Rajiv Gandhi (Indira's elder son, an airline pilot with no political experience) was reluctantly forced into politics and elected to the Lok Sabha from Amethi.
Key Terms
| Concept | Definition |
|---|---|
| Congress (I) | The political party led by Indira Gandhi that returned to power with a strong majority in the 1980 General Elections for the Seventh Lok Sabha. |
📌 Exam Tidbits
- Indira Gandhi retained the Medak constituency after winning two seats in 1980.
- Rajiv Gandhi entered politics and won from Amethi following the death of Sanjay Gandhi in June 1980.
Economy, Environment, and Science
Economic Planning and Programmes
- The Janata Sixth Five-Year Plan was curtailed.
- A new Sixth Five-Year Plan (1980-85) was launched.
- Focus: Increasing growth, promoting industrialisation, reducing poverty, and decreasing unemployment.
- Minimum Needs Programme: Envisaged for the economically underprivileged to ensure nationally accepted standards within a prescribed period.
- Economic Liberalisation: The Sixth Plan initiated the first, cautious steps towards economic liberalisation.
- Operation Forward was launched by the government in 1982.
- Indira Gandhi remained wary of multinational companies eroding India's self-reliance.
| Programme / Institution | Launch / Establishment Date | Details / Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) | Launched 1978-79, expanded October 2, 1980 | Expanded all over the country. |
| National Rural Employment Programme (NREP) | Launched October 1980 | Became a regular programme under the Plan from April 1981. |
| National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) | Established 1982 | Created for rural sector development on the recommendation of the Shivaraman Committee. |
Environmental Initiatives
- The Sixth Plan also gave importance to environmental improvement.
- Indira Gandhi had…
This is a 350-word maximum preview. The complete chapter remains available only with the History plan.
Locked chapter
This chapter is part of the History plan
Subscribe to read every chapter on any device. Free chapters remain readable for everyone.
View plans Chapter 43 : The Rajiv Years (October 1984-December 1989)