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Question 111 of 169 · World GK: Countries, Capitals & Currencies
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The dissolution of the Soviet Union (USSR), which led to the independence of its fifteen republics, took place in:

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Answer: Option B — 1991

Detailed Solution

The Soviet Union (USSR) was dissolved in December 1991; on 25 December 1991, Mikhail Gorbachev resigned as the President of the Soviet Union, and the next day the Soviet Union formally ceased to exist.

Background:

  • The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was formed in 1922.
  • It was a federation of fifteen republics, dominated by Russia.
  • It was ruled by the Communist Party, with a centrally planned economy.

Causes of the dissolution:

  • The Soviet economy had become weak and stagnant, and could not meet the needs of the people.
  • The costly arms race with the USA and the war in Afghanistan (1979-1989) drained its resources.
  • Mikhail Gorbachev, who became the leader in 1985, introduced reforms called "glasnost" (openness) and "perestroika" (restructuring).
  • These reforms allowed people to criticise the government, and nationalist movements grew in the republics.
  • In 1989, communist governments in Eastern Europe collapsed, and the Berlin Wall fell.
  • The Baltic republics (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) declared independence.

The August coup (1991):

In August 1991, hardline communists tried to overthrow Gorbachev, but the coup failed because of popular resistance led by Boris Yeltsin, the President of Russia.

The end of the USSR:

  • On 8 December 1991, the leaders of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus signed the Belovezha Accords, declaring that the Soviet Union had ceased to exist and forming the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
  • Most other republics joined the CIS.

Results:

  • Fifteen independent countries emerged, with Russia as the largest successor state.
  • The Cold War came to an end, and the USA remained the only superpower.

NCERT on the disintegration:

NCERT notes that the disintegration of the Soviet Union marked the end of the Cold War and the beginning of a unipolar world.

India and the USSR:

India had close ties with the Soviet Union, including the Indo-Soviet Treaty of Friendship (1971).

Why not the other options?

  • ✗1985 was the year Gorbachev came to power; 1989 was the year the Berlin Wall fell; 1993 is not correct.

Quick tip

Remember: dissolution of the USSR = December 1991 (Gorbachev resigned on 25 December 1991); Belovezha Accords and the CIS; end of the Cold War.

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World GK: Countries, Capitals & Currencies — Preparation

This question tests your understanding of World GK: Countries, Capitals & Currencies, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.

This topic covers world GK: countries with their capitals, currencies and parliaments, national symbols, famous landmarks, the longest, largest and highest features of the world, and international boundary lines such as the Radcliffe, McMahon and Durand Lines. The most common questions match a country with its capital or currency, or a parliament with its name (such as the Knesset of Israel or the Diet of Japan). Revise countries continent by continent, giving extra attention to India's neighbours. Questions on boundary lines usually ask which two countries a line separates. Practise the world GK questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.

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