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NCERT Class 10 Social Science Political Parties: Exercise Solutions

Point-by-point answers for every question of End-of-chapter exercises in NCERT's Class 10 Social Science book, chapter “Political Parties”, written by Shishya. Each question is in our own short words; open the NCERT chapter for the exact wording and figures.

1. Exercises Q1

   State the functions political parties perform in a democracy.

   1. Political parties contest elections and select candidates to represent them.
   2. They put forward different policies and programmes for voters to choose from.
   3. Parties play a decisive role in making laws through their members in the legislature.
   4. They form and run governments by recruiting and training leaders for executive roles.
   5. Losing parties act as the opposition, criticizing the government and mobilizing dissent.

   Answer: Political parties perform functions like contesting elections, formulating policies, making laws, running governments, and acting as opposition.

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2. Exercises Q2

   What challenges do political parties face?

   1. Lack of internal democracy: power is concentrated in one or a few top leaders; parties do not keep membership registers, hold regular organisational meetings or conduct internal elections, and ordinary members have no say.
   2. Dynastic succession: top positions are often controlled by members of one family, so people without the right connections find it hard to rise, which is bad for democracy.
   3. Money and muscle power: since parties focus on winning elections, they tend to choose rich candidates and sometimes support criminals who can win.
   4. Lack of meaningful choice: the differences among parties have narrowed, so voters often do not get a real choice of policies, and even the leaders keep shifting between parties.

   Answer: Political parties face four challenges: lack of internal democracy, dynastic succession, the growing role of money and muscle power, and the failure to offer voters a meaningful choice.

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3. Exercises Q3

   Suggest reforms to strengthen parties so they perform their functions well.

   1. Anti-defection: the Constitution was amended so that an MLA or MP who changes parties loses the seat; this has reduced defection.
   2. Affidavits: on the Supreme Court's order, every candidate must file an affidavit giving details of property and pending criminal cases, which gives voters information.
   3. Internal elections: the Election Commission requires parties to hold organisational elections and file income tax returns.
   4. Other suggestions: a law to regulate parties' internal affairs (membership registers, following their constitution, an independent authority for disputes, open elections to top posts); about one-third of tickets and a quota in party bodies for women; and state funding of elections.
   5. People can also press for reform through petitions, publicity, agitation and by joining parties themselves.

   Answer: Reforms include the anti-defection law, candidates' affidavits on property and criminal cases, compulsory internal elections, laws on internal party democracy, one-third tickets for women, state funding of elections, and pressure from citizens.

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4. Exercises Q4

   What is a political party?

   1. A political party is a group of people who come together to contest elections.
   2. The main goal of a party is to hold power in the government.
   3. Parties select candidates and support specific policies to represent society.

   Answer: A political party is a group of people who contest elections to hold power in the government.

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5. Exercises Q5

   What are the characteristics of a political party?

   1. A political party is an organization that contests elections to win power.
   2. It has three main components: leaders, active members, and followers.
   3. The party puts forward specific policies and programmes for the society.
   4. It reflects the fundamental political divisions and interests of a part of the society.

   Answer: A political party is an organization with leaders, members, and followers that contests elections, promotes specific policies, and represents the interests of a particular section of society.

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6. Exercises Q6

   Fill in the blank: a group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in government is called a ___.

   1. A political party is defined as a group of people who unite to contest elections.
   2. These groups aim to hold power in the government by winning elections.

   Answer: political party

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7. Exercises Q7

   Match 1 Congress Party, 2 Bharatiya Janata Party, 3 Communist Party of India (Marxist), 4 Telugu Desam Party with A National Democratic Alliance, B state party, C United Progressive Alliance, D Left Front. Codes for 1-2-3-4: (a) C A B D (b) C D A B (c) C A D B (d) D C A B

   1. The Congress Party is the leader of the United Progressive Alliance.
   2. The Bharatiya Janata Party leads the National Democratic Alliance.
   3. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) is part of the Left Front.
   4. The Telugu Desam Party is classified as a state party.

   Answer: (c) C A D B

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8. Exercises Q8

   MCQ: who founded the Bahujan Samaj Party? A Kanshi Ram B Sahu Maharaj C B.R. Ambedkar D Jotiba Phule

   1. The Bahujan Samaj Party was formed in 1984 under the leadership of Kanshi Ram.
   2. It seeks to represent and secure power for the bahujan samaj, which includes the Dalits, Adivasis, OBCs and religious minorities.

   Answer: A. Kanshi Ram

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9. Exercises Q9

   MCQ: the guiding philosophy of the Bharatiya Janata Party? A Bahujan Samaj B revolutionary democracy C integral humanism D modernity

   1. The Bharatiya Janata Party follows a specific ideological framework known as integral humanism.
   2. This philosophy emphasizes the holistic development of individuals and society.
   3. Other options like Bahujan Samaj or revolutionary democracy belong to different political ideologies.

   Answer: C. Integral humanism

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10. Exercises Q10

    Which statements on parties are correct? A: parties do not enjoy much trust among the people. B: parties are often rocked by scandals involving top leaders. C: parties are not necessary to run governments. Options: (a) A, B and C (b) A and B (c) B and C (d) A and C

    1. Statement A is correct because the chapter notes that political parties do not enjoy much trust among people in South Asia.
    2. Statement B is correct as the text mentions that parties are often rocked by scandals involving their top leaders.
    3. Statement C is incorrect because the chapter explains that political parties are necessary to form and run governments in modern democracies.

    Answer: (b) A and B

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11. Exercises Q11

    A passage: Muhammad Yunus, the Bangladeshi economist who with his Grameen Bank won the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize, launched a new party, Nagarik Shakti (Citizens' Power), in February 2007 to bring good governance; a government official welcomed it, traditional party leaders were wary, and some critics questioned his motives. Was it a right decision? Do you agree with the views and fears expressed? How would you organise the new party to make it different, and how would you defend it?

    1. Yunus made a right decision because traditional parties failed to provide good governance and meaningful choice to voters.
    2. The fears of traditional leaders are valid as politics is challenging and controversial, unlike winning a Nobel Prize.
    3. The party should be organised democratically from the grassroots level to ensure internal democracy and avoid dynastic control.
    4. To defend the party, one must argue that it offers a new political culture and a chance for citizens to choose a government free from corruption.

    Answer: Yunus's decision was right to bring good governance; the party must be grassroots democratic to differ from traditional ones and defend its purpose of fighting corruption.

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