Class 10 Social Science - Democratic Politics - Chapter Power Sharing NCERT Solutions | The Mayor of Merchtem, a town near Bruss

Read the following passage, and pick out any one of the prudential reasons for power sharing offered in this.

“We need to give more power to the panchayats to realise the dream of Mahatma Gandhi, and the hopes of the makers of our Constitution. The Panchayati Raj establishes true democracy. It restores power to the only place where power belongs in a democracy – in the hands of the people. Giving power to Panchayats is also a way to reduce corruption, and increase administrative efficiency. When people participate in the planning and implementation of developmental schemes, they would naturally exercise greater control over these schemes. This would eliminate the corrupt middlemen. Thus the Panchayati Raj will strengthen the foundations of our democracy."

Different arguments are usually put forth in favour of and against power sharing. Identify those which are in favour of power sharing and select the answer using the codes given below? Power sharing:

A. reduces conflict among different communities
B. decreases the possibility of arbitrariness
C. delays decision making process
D. accommodates diversities
E. increases instability and divisiveness
F. promotes people’s participation in government
G. undermines the unity of a country

What are the different forms of power-sharing in modern democracies? Give an example of each of these.

State one prudential reason and one moral reason for power-sharing with an example from the Indian context. [CBSE Sept. 2010]

After reading this chapter, three students drew different conclusions. Which of these do you agree with and why ? Give your reasons in about 50 words.

Thomman – Power sharing is necessary only in societies which have religious, linguistic or ethnic divisions.
Mattai – Power sharing is suited only for big countries that have regional divisions.
Ousep – Every society needs some form of power sharing even if they are small or do not have social divisions.

Match List I (forms of power- sharing) with List II (forms of government) and select the correct answer using codes given below the lists :

                       List I                                                                                                      List II

(i) Power shared among different organs of government                                  A. Community government
(ii) Power shared among governments at different levels                                 B. Separation of Powers
(iii) Power shared by different social groups                                                     C. Coalition government
(iv) Power shared by two or more political parties                                            D. Federal government

Consider the following statements about power sharing arrangements in Belgium and Sri Lanka :

A. In Belgium the Dutch-speaking majority people tried to impose their domination on the minority French speaking community.
B. In Sri Lanka the policies of the government ensured the dominance of the Sinhala speaking majority.
C. The Tamils in Sri Lanka demanded a federal arrangement of power sharingto protect their culture, language and equality of opportunity in education and jobs.
D. The transformation of Belgium from unitary government to a federal one prevented a possible division of the country on linguistic lines.

Which of the statements given are correct ?

(a) A, B, C and D
(b) A, B, and D
(c) C and D
(d) B, C and D

Consider the following two statements on power-sharing and select the answer using codes given below:

A. Power sharing is good for democracy.
B. It helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups.

Which of the statements are true and false?

(a) A is true but B is false
(b) Both A and B are true
(c) Both A and B are false
(d) A is false but B is true

In what ways do pressure groups and movements exert influence on politics?

State the various functions political parties perform in a democracy.

How does democracy produce an accountable, responsive and legitimate government?

Writing your own definition of a good democracy.​

Locate the following States on a blank outline political map of India:
Manipur, Sikkim, Chhattisgarh and Goa.

Discuss three factors that determine the outcomes of politics of social divisions.

Mention different aspects of life in which women are discriminated or disadvantaged in India.

Describe the forms of relationship between pressure groups and political parties?

What are the various challenges faced by political parties?

What are the conditions under which democracies accommodate social diversities?

When we speak of gender divisions, we usually refer to:
(a) Biological difference between men and women
(b) Unequal roles assigned by the society to men and women
(c) Unequal child sex ratio
(d) Absence of voting rights for women in democracies

Match List I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists:

List I                                              List II

(i) A person who believes    A. Communalist in equal rights and opportunities for women and men.

(ii) A person who says that    B. Feminist religion is the principal basis of the community.

(iii) A person who thinks      C. Secularist that caste is the principal basis of community.

(iv) A person who does not    D. Castiest discriminate against others on the basis of religious beliefs.

(a) (i) – B; (ii) – C; (iii) – A; (iv) – D

(b) (i) – B; (ii) – A; (iii) – D (iv) – C

(c) (i) – D; (ii) – C; (iii) – A (iv) – B

(d) (i) – C; (ii) – A; (iii) – B (iv) – D

Give arguments to support or oppose the following assertions:
      *  Industrialised countries can afford democracy but the poor need dictatorship to become rich.
      *  Democracy can’t reduce inequality of incomes between different citizens.
      *  Government in poor countries should spend less on poverty reduction, health, education and spend more on industries and infrastructure.
      *  In democracy all citizens have one vote, which means that there is absence of any domination and conflict.

Identify the challenges to democracy in the following descriptions. Also suggest policy/institutional mechanism to deepen democracy in the given situations:
    *  Following a High Court directive a temple in Orissa that had separate entry doors for dalits and non-dalits allowed entry for all from the same door.
    *  A large number of farmers are committing suicide in different states of India.
    *  Following allegation of killing of three civilians in Gandwara in a fake encounter by Jammu and Kashmir police, an enquiry has been ordered.

How do social divisions affect politics? Give two examples.

Arrange the following statements in a logical sequence and select the right answers by using the code given below.
A. But all political expression of social divisions need not be always dangerous.
B. Social divisions of one kind or the other exist in most countries.
C. Parties try to win political support by appealing to social divisions.
D. Some social differences may result in social divisions.
(a) D, B, C, A (b) D, B, A, C (c) D, A, C, B (d) A, B, C, D

Social divisions based on _________ are peculiar to India.

Examine the following pairs that give the level of government in India and the powers of the government at that level to make laws on the subjects mentioned against each. Which of the following pairs is not correctly matched?

Who among the following is the founder of the Bahujan Samaj Party?
A. Kanshi Ram
B. Sahu Maharaj
C. B.R. Ambedkar
D. Jotiba Phule

Describe the forms of relationship between pressure groups and political parties?