IGNOU MPS-003 Assignment Answers 2025: : India: Democracy and Development Solved Part 2

 

Question 3: Elaborate on the Liberalisation, Privatisation, and Globalization (LPG) policies.

Answer: The policies of Liberalisation, Privatisation, and Globalisation (LPG) mark a significant turning point in India’s socio-economic history. Introduced in 1991, these reforms transformed India from a closed, state-controlled economy to an open, market-oriented one. While they were primarily economic measures, their sociological implications have been profound, influencing class structures, lifestyles, patterns of employment, cultural values, and even the nature of inequality in Indian society.

Background of LPG Reforms

After independence, India adopted a mixed economy model, with the state playing a dominant role in industrialization, planning, and welfare. However, by the late 1980s, the economy faced severe challenges: low productivity, inefficiency in public sector undertakings, rising fiscal deficits, and a balance of payments crisis. In 1991, under the leadership of Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao and Finance Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, India adopted the New Economic Policy (NEP), introducing the three pillars of economic reform — Liberalisation, Privatisation, and Globalisation.

From a sociological perspective, these reforms were not just economic adjustments but also responses to the changing global order, where international institutions like the IMF and World Bank were advocating neoliberal economic policies emphasizing market efficiency over state control.

1. Liberalisation

Liberalisation refers to the relaxation of government restrictions in economic and business activities. Before 1991, India’s economy was heavily regulated through the “License Raj,” where starting or expanding industries required multiple government approvals. Liberalisation aimed to reduce bureaucratic control and promote private enterprise by:

• Deregulating industries and removing licensing requirements.
• Reducing import tariffs and allowing easier access to foreign goods.
• Simplifying tax structures and encouraging competition.
• Opening the financial sector and allowing private banks.

Sociological Impact:
Liberalisation led to significant social transformations. The rise of a new middle class, especially urban and educated professionals, created new patterns of consumption and aspirations. It also increased individual mobility, particularly in sectors like IT, services, and telecommunications. However, liberalisation also widened the gap between the rich and the poor, urban and rural, skilled and unskilled. It contributed to growing economic inequalities and job insecurity, especially in traditional industries and agriculture.

2. Privatisation

Privatisation involves the transfer of ownership or management of state-owned enterprises to private hands. The idea was that private ownership would bring efficiency, innovation, and accountability. In India, privatisation included:

• Selling shares of public sector undertakings (PSUs) to private investors.
• Encouraging private participation in sectors like telecom, airlines, and energy.
• Outsourcing or reducing the role of government in economic activities.

Sociological Impact:
Privatisation altered the social role of the state. Earlier, the government was seen as the provider of jobs and social security. After privatisation, the focus shifted towards efficiency and profit. This created new occupational hierarchies and changed labor relations. Many public sector employees faced retrenchment or loss of job security, while private sector professionals gained new opportunities. The emergence of corporate culture influenced lifestyles, work ethics, and gender roles — especially as more women entered professional and service sectors.

However, critics argue that privatisation contributed to social exclusion by reducing access to affordable public services like education, healthcare, and transportation. It also led to the commodification of basic needs, where citizens began to be seen as consumers rather than beneficiaries of welfare.

3. Globalisation

Globalisation refers to the process by which economies, societies, and cultures become interconnected through trade, investment, technology, and communication. Post-1991, India integrated into the global economy by:

• Allowing foreign direct investment (FDI).
• Promoting exports and participation in global markets.
• Encouraging multinational corporations (MNCs) to operate in India.
• Expanding communication networks and digital connectivity.

Sociological Impact:
Globalisation profoundly transformed Indian society. It introduced a cosmopolitan culture, spread global media, and reshaped values and aspirations. Cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Gurgaon emerged as global IT hubs, symbolizing India’s participation in the global knowledge economy.

However, sociologically, globalisation also led to cultural homogenization, where Western consumer culture began to influence Indian lifestyles, clothing, language, and food habits. This raised concerns about the erosion of traditional values and cultural identity. At the same time, it created hybrid cultures, where global and local elements coexist (for instance, “McDonald’s Masala Burger” or “Bollywood global music”).

Globalisation also accentuated social stratification. The educated urban elite benefitted the most, while rural populations and unskilled workers faced marginalization. Migration to cities increased, contributing to urbanization and informal labor markets. Moreover, the digital divide widened as access to technology became a new marker of inequality.

Conclusion

From a sociological viewpoint, the LPG reforms of 1991 were not only economic adjustments but also social revolutions that redefined India’s class structure, labor relations, and cultural patterns. Liberalisation created economic opportunities but also increased inequalities; privatisation enhanced efficiency but reduced job security and welfare; and globalisation connected India to the world but challenged traditional identities and values.

Together, these processes gave rise to a new social order—marked by consumerism, individualism, and global connectivity—while simultaneously deepening regional, economic, and digital divides. In essence, the LPG era symbolizes India’s transition from a state-driven to a market-driven society, bringing both progress and new forms of inequality. Sociologically, it reflects the tension between modernity and tradition, growth and equity, global forces and local realities, which continue to shape India’s social fabric today.

 

 

Question 4: Elaborate upon the evolution of peasant movements in India.

Answer: Peasant movements in India represent a significant aspect of the country’s socio-political history and are central to the study of rural society in sociology. These movements were primarily responses to economic exploitation, social oppression, and political marginalization faced by peasants under various ruling structures—from the colonial era to independent India. The evolution of peasant movements highlights the dynamic interplay between agrarian structures, class relations, and political mobilization in rural India.

Understanding Peasant Movements

From a sociological perspective, a peasant movement is a collective action by rural communities, primarily agricultural laborers and small farmers, aimed at challenging economic inequalities, land tenure systems, and social hierarchies. These movements often emerge from structural inequalities in agrarian societies, including land concentration, feudal exploitation, high taxation, and indebtedness. Sociologists study these movements to understand patterns of resistance, social mobilization, and rural consciousness.

1. Peasant Movements in the Pre-Colonial Period

In pre-colonial India, peasants were often subjected to feudal exploitation under local landlords (zamindars) and regional rulers. Though instances of rural revolts existed, they were generally localized and fragmented, often aimed at resisting specific injustices such as excessive taxation or forced labor.

Examples include:

• The Revolt of 1857 had elements of peasant discontent, as rural communities joined in opposition to oppressive policies.
• Regional revolts such as the Chuar rebellion in Bengal and the Poligar uprisings in South India reflected resistance to feudal extraction and administrative oppression.

Sociologically, these early movements indicate that peasant identity was closely tied to economic survival and social autonomy, rather than ideological or nationalist consciousness. They were reactive movements rather than organized efforts for systemic change.

2. Peasant Movements During the Colonial Period

The British colonial period (1757–1947) marked a turning point in peasant mobilization, as the introduction of modern revenue systems, commercialization of agriculture, and land settlements increased rural exploitation.

Key Features of Colonial Peasant Movements:

• Economic Grievances: High land revenue, forced cash crop cultivation, moneylender exploitation, and famines drove peasants to revolt.
• Organizational Growth: Unlike pre-colonial times, colonial repression led to more organized, larger-scale movements with defined demands.
• Political Consciousness: Some movements began linking economic grievances with nationalist or anti-colonial sentiment, especially in the 1920s and 1930s.

Notable Movements:

• Bardoli Satyagraha (1928): Led by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, peasants protested against increased revenue collection, marking a blend of economic and political struggle.
• Kheda and Champaran Movements: Peasants resisted oppressive revenue policies, highlighting the emergence of peasant leadership in mass movements.
• Telangana and Tebhaga Movements: These movements combined class struggle with agrarian reform, often influenced by socialist and communist ideologies.

Sociologically, the colonial period shows the evolution from localized revolts to organized, ideologically informed peasant mobilization, reflecting growing class consciousness and interaction with broader political movements.

3. Post-Independence Peasant Movements

After independence in 1947, India implemented land reforms, tenancy acts, and the abolition of zamindari systems. While these reforms reduced some structural exploitation, peasant movements continued due to persistent rural inequalities, lack of access to credit, unemployment, and mechanization pressures.

Characteristics of Post-Independence Movements:

• Class-Oriented Struggles: Movements often focused on issues such as fair wages, irrigation rights, and land redistribution.
• Regional Variations: Movements like the Naxalite-Maoist insurgency in West Bengal, Bihar, and Andhra Pradesh reflected radical challenges to the state and elite landholding patterns.
• Political Mobilization: Peasant organizations increasingly linked with political parties and trade unions to advance rural development and social justice agendas.

Sociologically, post-independence peasant movements indicate that structural inequalities, even after formal land reforms, continue to fuel rural mobilization. They reflect the tensions between modernization, commercialization of agriculture, and traditional social hierarchies.

4. Contemporary Peasant Movements

In recent decades, peasant mobilization has shifted focus to globalization, market liberalization, and agrarian distress. Issues such as corporate control of agriculture, rising input costs, declining profitability of small farms, and climate change have led to nationwide protests. Movements like the 2017-2021 farmers’ protests against the farm laws illustrate the contemporary intersection of economic, political, and social concerns, showing that peasants remain a significant force in India’s democratic society.

Sociological Significance

From a sociological standpoint, the evolution of peasant movements in India reflects several key insights:

1. Class and Power Relations: Peasant movements reveal the persistent inequalities and power dynamics between landowners, moneylenders, and agricultural laborers.
2. Social Mobilization: They demonstrate how rural communities organize collectively, creating solidarity and social networks that challenge structural oppression.
3. Interaction with National Politics: Peasant struggles often intersect with nationalist movements, political parties, and ideological frameworks, showing the link between local grievances and broader societal change.
4. Rural Modernization: These movements influence policy reforms, land redistribution, labor rights, and rural development, shaping India’s transition to a modern democratic state.

Conclusion

The evolution of peasant movements in India—from pre-colonial revolts to contemporary agrarian protests—reflects a continuous struggle against economic exploitation and social marginalization. Sociologically, they illustrate the transformation of rural consciousness, the development of class awareness, and the capacity for collective action. Peasant movements not only shaped agrarian structures and policies but also influenced India’s broader social, economic, and political landscape, highlighting the crucial role of rural communities in shaping the nation’s democratic and developmental trajectory.

 

 

 

 

Explain the concept of development and its relationship with democracy.

Analyse the functioning of the federal system in India.

Elaborate on the Liberalisation, Privatisation, and Globalization (LPG) policies.

Elaborate upon the evolution of peasant movements in India.

Write short notes on the following in about 250 words. A) The Telangana Peasant Rebellion

Write short notes on the following in about 250 words. B) Political participation

Explain the behavioralist concept of political participation.

Explain the nature of regionalism in India.

Examine the Basic Minimum Needs approach to human development.

Discuss the causes of over-urbanisation.

Write short notes on the following in about 250 words a) Internal Migration

Write short notes on the following in about 250 words. b) Sustainable Development

IGNOU MPS-003 Assignment Answers 2025: : India: Democracy and Development Solved Part 2