CBSE Class 12 · Recent Developments in Indian Politics

Communalism, Secularism and Democracy: Shah Bano, Ayodhya and the Supreme Court Verdict (Class 12 Political Science, Politics in India since Independence, Chapter 8)

Updated 17 October 2026 · Draft, not yet fact-checked

NCERT names the visible rise of politics based on religious identity as a long-term development, which led to a debate on secularism and democracy. Two developments around 1986, the Shah Bano case and the Ayodhya issue, became central. The Ayodhya dispute was resolved by the 5-0 verdict of a Supreme Court constitutional bench on 9 November 2019.

Follow the dates in order: the BJP formed in 1980, two issues became central around 1985-86, and the Supreme Court gave a 5-0 verdict in 2019.

Illustration drawn for QuestionBuddy.

Understand Religion-Based Politics, the Shah Bano Case and the Ayodhya Issue

Why this topic matters. This is the second long-term development in the chapter on recent developments. Questions ask for the background of the BJP, the Shah Bano case, the stages of the Ayodhya dispute and the 2019 verdict. The subject is sensitive. Use only what NCERT states, attribute each position to the group or person who held it, and avoid judging any party, community or leader.

1. Religion and politics.

NCERT notes the visible rise of politics based on religious identity, which led to a debate about secularism and democracy.
After the Emergency, the Bharatiya Jana Sangh merged with the Janata Party. After the Janata Party fell and broke up, the supporters of the erstwhile Jana Sangh formed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 1980.
The BJP at first adopted a broader platform than the Jana Sangh, embracing 'Gandhian Socialism' and cultural nationalism. It had little success in the 1984 elections. After 1986 the party began to emphasise nationalism as the core of its ideology and also pursued the politics of 'Hindutva'.
NCERT explains that Hindutva was popularised by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar as the basis of Indian nationhood: to be an Indian, one must accept India as fatherland (pitrubhu) and holy land (punyabhu). Believers of Hindutva argue that a strong nation can be built on a united national culture. (Views are attributed to those who hold them.)

2. The Shah Bano case (1985).

A 62-year-old divorced Muslim woman, Shah Bano, filed a case for maintenance from her former husband; the Supreme Court ruled in her favour.
Orthodox Muslims saw the order as interference in Muslim Personal Law. On the demand of some Muslim leaders, the government passed the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986, which nullified the judgment.
NCERT adds that this action was opposed by many women's organisations, many Muslim groups and most intellectuals, while the BJP criticised it as an unnecessary concession and 'appeasement' of the minority community.

3. The Ayodhya issue.

NCERT calls it deeply rooted in socio-cultural and political history, involving different perspectives of various stakeholders, contentions about the birth place of Shri Ram and the legal ownership of the site.
A three-dome structure was built at the site in 1528; NCERT says it had visible Hindu symbols and relics. The history of about 500 years is marked by conflicts documented in the Lucknow, Barabanki and Faizabad district Gazetteers. It became a prolonged legal battle; the structure was sealed in 1949 when court proceedings began.
In 1986 the Faizabad (now Ayodhya) district court ruled to unlock the structure and allow worship. Shilanyas for the temple was done but further construction was prohibited. NCERT records that the Hindu community felt its concerns about the birth place were overlooked, while the Muslim community sought assurance of their possession. Tensions rose over ownership.
In 1992, following the demolition of the structure, some critics contended that it posed a substantial challenge to the principles of Indian democracy.
NCERT adds a historical note that on 28 November 1858 Nihang Sikhs captured the Janmabhoomi site and performed puja and havan before being forcibly ousted by the colonial administration.

4. Resolution by due process (2019).

NCERT says that in a multi-religious, multi-cultural democracy conflicts are usually resolved by due process of law. Through court hearings, mediation attempts, popular movements and finally a 5-0 verdict of a constitutional bench of the Supreme Court on 9 November 2019, the issue was resolved.
The verdict allotted the disputed site to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust for the construction of a Ram temple and directed the concerned government to allot an appropriate site for a mosque to the Sunni Central Waqf Board.
NCERT states that the decision rested on evidence such as archaeological excavations and historical records, was celebrated by society at large, and is an example of consensus building showing the maturity of democratic ethos.
Excerpts quoted in the book include the Court's words that citizens of all faiths are equal before the law and that the Constitution makes no distinction between the faith and belief of one religion and another.

5. Where this fits. In the 'Context of the 1990s' section, NCERT lists the Ram Janmabhoomi dispute as the fourth of five developments that made a long-lasting impact on Indian politics as the 1980s came to a close. It says the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple Movement transformed the discourse on secularism and democracy, culminating in the construction of the Ram Temple after the Supreme Court decision of 9 November 2019.

Graph checklist. A timeline: 1528, 1949, 1980 (BJP), 1985 (Shah Bano), 1986 (two developments), 1992, 9 November 2019.

Key quotations

Short lines worth knowing by heart: who says them, when, and why they matter.

It is a classic example of consensus building on a sensitive issue that shows the maturity of democratic ethos which are civilizationally ingrained in India.
NCERT, Politics in India since Independence, Chapter 8: NCERT's comment on the Supreme Court's 2019 decision.
The textbook's own assessment; cite it as NCERT's view in evaluation answers.

Religion-Based Politics, the Shah Bano Case and the Ayodhya Issue: key facts

Timeline: 1528 structure built
1949 sealed
1980 BJP formed
1985 Shah Bano case
1986 Act and district court order
1992 demolition
9 November 2019 verdict; Use for arrange-in-order questions.
BJP's early ideology: 1980 formed
Gandhian Socialism
Cultural nationalism
After 1986 nationalism as core
Hindutva mobilisation; Little success in 1984.
Shah Bano case: 62-year-old divorced Muslim woman
Maintenance
Supreme Court ruled in her favour
Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act 1986; Reactions attributed: orthodox Muslims, women's organisations, BJP.
2019 verdict: 5-0 constitutional bench
9 November 2019
Site to Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust
Alternative mosque site to Sunni Central Waqf Board; Evidence: archaeological excavations and historical records.

1528	structure built
1949	sealed
1980	BJP formed
1985	Shah Bano case
1986	Act and district court order
1992	demolition
	9 November 2019 verdict

How to answer Religion-Based Politics, the Shah Bano Case and the Ayodhya Issue questions

Write in sequence and name who held each view. Use verbs like 'argued', 'felt', 'criticised'. Avoid adjectives that judge any side.

1Introduce the rise of religious-identity politics and the debate on secularism.
2Explain the formation of the BJP in 1980 and its ideology in two phases.
3State the Shah Bano case, the 1986 Act and each group's reaction as attributed.
4Outline the Ayodhya dispute from 1528 to 1992 in dated steps.
5Close with the due-process resolution of 9 November 2019 and its terms.

Religion-Based Politics, the Shah Bano Case and the Ayodhya Issue in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Courts as a peaceful route

Suppose two groups in a town disagree for decades over who owns a plot, hold meetings, try mediation, go to court, and finally accept the order of a bench that gives each group a plot.

Which NCERT point does this illustrate?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

NCERT says conflicts in a multi-religious democracy are usually resolved by due process of law.
Court hearings, mediation attempts and a final verdict resolved the Ayodhya issue and sought to reconcile interests.

Answer: It illustrates conflict resolution through due process of law and consensus building in a plural society.

Memory hook: Hearing, mediation, verdict.

Competing readings of a decision

Suppose a court gives a ruling in a personal-law case, some community leaders feel it interferes with their law, others feel it protects an individual's rights, and the legislature changes the rule.

Which NCERT episode is similar, and how should the positions be reported?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

In the Shah Bano case the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the divorced woman; orthodox Muslims saw interference in Muslim Personal Law, and the 1986 Act nullified the judgment.
Women's organisations, many Muslim groups and most intellectuals opposed the Act, while the BJP called it appeasement; each position is attributed to its holders.

Answer: The Shah Bano case and the 1986 Act; the positions of each group should be reported separately.

Memory hook: Report who said what.

Tricks to remember Religion-Based Politics, the Shah Bano Case and the Ayodhya Issue

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

80-85-86-92-2019
BJP 1980, Shah Bano 1985, unlocking and Act 1986, 1992, verdict 2019.
Use it when: Timeline of the section.
Pitrubhu, Punyabhu
Fatherland and holy land in Savarkar's idea.
Use it when: Hindutva as explained in NCERT.
5-0 on the 9th
A 5-0 verdict on 9 November 2019.
Use it when: Verdict detail.
Trust and Waqf
Site to the Teertha Kshetra Trust, a mosque site to the Sunni Central Waqf Board.
Use it when: Terms of the verdict.

Religion-Based Politics, the Shah Bano Case and the Ayodhya Issue: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: Formation of the BJP · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

After the break-up of the Janata Party, the supporters of which earlier party formed the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1980?
(A) Swatantra Party
(B) Bharatiya Jana Sangh
(C) Socialist Party
(D) Samyukta Socialist Party

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

NCERT: the Bharatiya Jana Sangh had merged with the Janata Party; after its fall and break-up, supporters of the erstwhile Jana Sangh formed the BJP in 1980 (1 mark).

Answer: (B) Bharatiya Jana Sangh

Example 2: Two developments around 1986 · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level

Name the two developments around 1986 that became central to the politics of the BJP, according to NCERT. (2 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

The Shah Bano case of 1985 (1 mark).
The Ayodhya issue (1 mark).

Answer: The Shah Bano case in 1985 and the Ayodhya issue.

Example 3: Assertion and reason on the 2019 verdict · 1 mark · Assertion-reasonHarder board level

Assertion (A): NCERT presents the Ayodhya issue as resolved through due process of law.
Reason (R): It was settled by a 5-0 verdict of a constitutional bench of the Supreme Court on 9 November 2019, after hearings and mediation attempts.
(A) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(B) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(C) (A) is true but (R) is false.
(D) (A) is false but (R) is true.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

NCERT states the legal process and the verdict of 9 November 2019.
R explains the basis of A (1 mark).

Answer: (A) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

Example 4: The Shah Bano case and its aftermath · 4 marks · Short answerHarder board level

Describe the Shah Bano case and the different reactions to the government's response, as reported by NCERT. (4 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

In 1985 a 62-year-old divorced Muslim woman filed a case for maintenance; the Supreme Court ruled in her favour (1 mark).
Orthodox Muslims saw the order as interference in Muslim Personal Law (1 mark).
On the demand of some Muslim leaders the government passed the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986, which nullified the judgment (1 mark).
The action was opposed by many women's organisations, many Muslim groups and most intellectuals; the BJP criticised it as appeasement (1 mark).

Answer: In the Shah Bano case a 62-year-old divorced Muslim woman filed a case for maintenance from her former husband in 1985 and the Supreme Court ruled in her favour. NCERT says orthodox Muslims saw the order as an interference in Muslim Personal Law. On the demand of some Muslim leaders the government passed the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986, nullifying the judgment. This was opposed by many women's organisations, many Muslim groups and most intellectuals, and the BJP criticised it as an unnecessary concession and appeasement of the minority community.

Example 5: Source-based: the 2019 resolution · 4 marks · Source-basedHarder board level

Read the passage: "It is important to note that in any society conflicts are bound to take place. However, in a multi-religious and multi-cultural democratic society, these conflicts are usually resolved following the due process of law. Through a number of democratic and legal procedures including court hearings, mediation attempts, popular movements, and finally with a 5-0 verdict of a constitutional bench of the Supreme Court on November 9, 2019, the Ayodhya issue was resolved. The verdict allotted the disputed site to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust for the construction of Ram temple and directed the concerned government to allot appropriate site for the construction of a Mosque to the Sunni Central Waqf Board."
(i) How are conflicts in a multi-religious democratic society usually resolved, as per the passage?
(A) By due process of law (B) By force (C) By ignoring them (D) By foreign mediation
(ii) What was the strength of the Supreme Court bench's verdict?
(A) 3-2 (B) 4-1 (C) 5-0 (D) 7-0
(iii) To whom was the disputed site allotted for the construction of a Ram temple?
(A) Sunni Central Waqf Board (B) Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust (C) State government (D) District court
(iv) To whom was an appropriate site for a mosque to be allotted?
(A) Sunni Central Waqf Board (B) The Trust (C) The Archaeological Survey (D) Faizabad district court
Choose the correct option for each.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

(i) Due process of law, so (A) (1 mark).
(ii) 5-0, so (C) (1 mark).
(iii) Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust, so (B) (1 mark).
(iv) Sunni Central Waqf Board, so (A) (1 mark).

Answer: (i) A; (ii) C; (iii) B; (iv) A

Example 6: HOTS: Ayodhya, secularism and democracy · 6 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

Using NCERT's account only, trace the main stages of the Ayodhya dispute and discuss how the book links its resolution to the working of democracy in a plural society. Attribute every position to the group that held it and avoid judging any side. (6 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Background: three-dome structure of 1528 and about 500 years of conflicts documented in gazetteers (1 mark).
1949 sealing with the start of court proceedings; 1986 district court order to unlock; Shilanyas done but construction prohibited (1 mark).
Positions: the Hindu community felt concerns about the birth place were overlooked; the Muslim community sought assurance about possession (1 mark).
1992 demolition and the view of some critics that it challenged democratic principles (1 mark).
2019: 5-0 verdict of a constitutional bench; site allotted to the Trust; alternative site for a mosque to the Sunni Central Waqf Board (1 mark).
NCERT's link: conflict resolved by due process, evidence, consensus building, inclusive spirit of the Constitution (1 mark).

Answer: NCERT describes the Ayodhya issue as deeply rooted in socio-cultural and political history, involving different perspectives of various stakeholders about the birth place of Shri Ram and the legal ownership of the site. A three-dome structure was built at the site in 1528, and the history of about 500 years is marked by conflicts recorded in district gazetteers. The structure was sealed in 1949 when court proceedings began. In 1986 the Faizabad district court ruled to unlock it for worship; Shilanyas was done but further construction remained prohibited. NCERT records that the Hindu community felt its concerns regarding the birth place were overlooked, while the Muslim community sought assurance of possession. After the demolition of 1992 some critics contended that it was a substantial challenge to the principles of Indian democracy.

NCERT says that in a multi-religious and multi-cultural democracy conflicts are usually resolved by due process of law. Through court hearings, mediation attempts, popular movements and a 5-0 verdict of a constitutional bench on 9 November 2019, the issue was resolved. The verdict allotted the site to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust for a Ram temple and directed the allotment of an appropriate site for a mosque to the Sunni Central Waqf Board. The book says the decision rested on evidence such as archaeological excavations and historical records, was celebrated by society at large, and shows the maturity of democratic ethos and the inclusive spirit of the Constitution. This is the textbook's assessment, reported as such.

Where students lose marks in Religion-Based Politics, the Shah Bano Case and the Ayodhya Issue

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

Mistake: Writing positions as the textbook's own opinion
Verbs of attribution are dropped.
Wrong working
The government's action was appeasement.
Right working
The BJP criticised the action as an unnecessary concession and 'appeasement'.
Do this: Name who held the view.
Usually costs: 1 to 2 marks.
Mistake: Mixing the Shah Bano and Ayodhya dates
Both are in the mid-1980s.
Wrong working
The Muslim Women Act was passed in 1992.
Right working
Shah Bano judgment: 1985; the Act: 1986; demolition: 1992; verdict: 2019.
Do this: Use the timeline trick.
Usually costs: 1 mark.
Mistake: Omitting the mosque site in the verdict
Only the temple is remembered.
Wrong working
The site was allotted to the Trust.
Right working
The site went to the Trust, and the concerned government was to allot an appropriate site for a mosque to the Sunni Central Waqf Board.
Do this: Write both parts.
Usually costs: 1 mark.

Exam tips

Use neutral verbs and attribute every position; do not add your own opinion.
Give dates in a timeline format; examiners award marks for correct sequence.
Quote NCERT's assessment of the 2019 verdict as the textbook's view.
Do not discuss events that are not in the NCERT text.

Practice questions on Religion-Based Politics, the Shah Bano Case and the Ayodhya Issue

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level
In the Shah Bano case, the Supreme Court ruled on a plea for:
(A) maintenance by a divorced woman from her former husband
(B) reservation in jobs
(C) ownership of a religious site
(D) a boundary dispute between states
Hint
A 62-year-old divorced woman.
Answer
(A) maintenance by a divorced woman from her former husband.
Q2 · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level
State two features of the BJP's ideology in its early years after its formation in 1980, as given in NCERT. (2 marks)
Hint
Gandhian Socialism and cultural nationalism.
Answer
The BJP embraced 'Gandhian Socialism' along with cultural nationalism as its ideology, and adopted a broader platform than the Jana Sangh. After 1986 it emphasised nationalism as the core of its ideology and pursued the politics of Hindutva.
Q3 · 1 mark · Assertion-reasonHarder board level
Assertion (A): After 1986 the BJP began to emphasise nationalism as the core of its ideology.
Reason (R): The BJP did not get much success in the 1984 elections.
(A) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(B) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(C) (A) is true but (R) is false.
(D) (A) is false but (R) is true.
Hint
NCERT states the facts but does it state a causal link?
Answer
(B) Both are true, but NCERT does not state R as the cause of A; they are consecutive facts.
Q4 · 4 marks · Short answerHarder board level
The structure at Ayodhya was built in 1528 and the verdict was given on 9 November 2019. Find the number of years between the two, and compare with NCERT's phrase 'the 500-year long history'. Also find the gap between the sealing (1949) and the verdict. (4 marks)
Hint
2019 - 1528; 2019 - 1949.
Answer
2019 - 1528 = 491 years, close to NCERT's phrase of a 500-year long history. 2019 - 1949 = 70 years between the sealing and the verdict (calendar-year differences, derived by subtraction).
Q5 · 4 marks · Short answerHarder board level
Explain the reactions of different groups to the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986, as NCERT reports them. (4 marks)
Hint
Muslim leaders, women's organisations, intellectuals, BJP.
Answer
The Act was passed on the demand of some Muslim leaders, since orthodox Muslims saw the Supreme Court's order as interference in Muslim Personal Law. It was opposed by many women's organisations, many Muslim groups and most intellectuals. The BJP criticised the action of the Congress government as an unnecessary concession and appeasement of the minority community.
Q6 · 4 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency
Why does NCERT describe the Ayodhya outcome as an example of democracy giving room for conflict resolution in a plural society? Present the book's reasoning in a balanced way and say what each community wanted earlier. (4 marks)
Hint
Court hearings, mediation, evidence, both communities' concerns.
Answer
NCERT says the issue was resolved through court hearings, mediation attempts, popular movements and a 5-0 verdict of a constitutional bench, based on evidence such as archaeological excavations and historical records. Earlier the Hindu community felt its concerns about the birth place were overlooked, while the Muslim community sought assurance of possession. The verdict gave the site to a trust for a temple and directed an appropriate site for a mosque, which the book reads as an effort to reconcile conflicting interests and uphold the inclusive spirit of the Constitution. This is the textbook's reasoning, reported as such.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

1.In which year did the Faizabad district court rule to unlock the structure?Show answer
1986.
2.Who popularised 'Hindutva' as a basis of Indian nationhood, per NCERT?Show answer
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.
3.Which Act nullified the Shah Bano judgment?Show answer
The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986.
4.On which date was the Supreme Court's constitutional bench verdict announced?Show answer
9 November 2019.
5.In which year was the structure sealed due to court proceedings?Show answer
1949.

Religion-Based Politics, the Shah Bano Case and the Ayodhya Issue: frequently asked questions

What did the BJP embrace as ideology in its early years?

'Gandhian Socialism' along with cultural nationalism.

What does NCERT say about the cause of the debate on secularism and democracy?

It links it with the visible rise of politics based on religious identity.

What evidence did NCERT say the 2019 decision rested on?

Evidence such as archaeological excavations and historical records, following the due process of law.

Which authority was to allot a site for a mosque?

The concerned government, to the Sunni Central Waqf Board.