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CH 6 Civics | Class 10
Hand Written Notes
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 1 Mark Questions

1. Why did India adopt multi-party system? Give reasons.

[1M, 2016]
A1. India adopted multi-party system because:
 India is a large country and has
social and geographical diversities.
 It is easy to absorb different diversities in a
multi-party system.

2. Name any one political party that has national level

political organisation but not recognised as a
national political party.
[1M,
2016]
A2. State parties like the Samajwadi Party, Samata Party
and Rashtriya Janata Dal have national level political
organisations with units in several states but are not
recognised as national parties.
3. What is meant by a political
party ?
[1M,
2015]
A3.
Political party is a group of people who come together to
contest elections and to hold power in the government.
They agree on some policies to promote collective good.
They seek to implement those policies by winning
popular support through elections. Thus political parties
tend to fill political offices and exercise political power.

4. Name any two regional parties of West

Bengal. [1M,
2015]
A4. I) Forward BLOCK (1940),
II) TRINAMOOL CONGRESS (1997).

5. What is the guiding philosophy of Bhartiya Janata Party?

[1M, 2015]
A5. The source of inspiration of Bharatiya Janata Party is
the ancient Indian culture and values. Cultural
nationalism (Hindutva) is an important element in its
conception of Indian nationhood and politics.

6. Which special privilege is given to recognised

political parties by the Election Commission?
[1M, 2014]
A6. RPP are given a special election symbol. Only
official candidates of that party can use the
election symbol.

7. Name the national political party which draws

inspiration from the teachings of Sahu Maharaj,
Mahatma Phule, Naicker and Babasaheb Ambedkar.
[1M, 2014]
A7. Bahujan Samaj Party.
8. What does Universal Adult Suffrage stand for?
[1M,
2013]
A8. Universal Adult suffrage stands for the ‘Right to Vote’

9. Given one point of difference between a pressure

group and a political party.
[1M, 2013]
A9. A pressure group is an organized or unorganized
body that seeks to promote its interests while a
political party is a body that seeks to attain political
power by contesting elections.

10. How many parties are needed in any democratic

system to compete in elections and provide a fair
chance for the competing parties to come to power?
[1M, 2012]
A10. At least two parties.
 3 Mark Questions

11. Describe the role of Political Parties in

India.
[3M,
2020]
A11. Role of Political Parties
i. Parties contest election

ii. Parties put forward different policies and

programmes

iii. Parties form and run the govt.

12. How are political parties recognized as regional and

national parties in India? Explain with examples.
[3M, 2019]
A12
.
Democracies that follow a federal system all over
the world tend to have two kinds of political
parties : parties that are present in only one of the
federal units and parties that are present in several
or all units of the national level. Every party in the
country has to register with the Election
Commission. Parties that get a unique symbol and
some other special facilities are ‘recognized’ by the
E
le
c
ti
o
n
 Commission for this purpose. That is why these
parties are called, ‘recognized political parties’. A
party that secures at least six percent of the total
votes in an election to the Legislative Assembly of a
State and wins at least two seats is recognized as a
‘State Party.’ A party that secures at least six percent
of the total votes in Lok Sabha elections or Assembly
elections in four states and wins at least four seats in
the Lok Sabha is recognized as a ‘National party.’

13. Analyse the three components of a political party.

[3M, 2016]
A13. The three components of a political party are as
follows:
 The leaders :- A political party consists of leaders,
who contest elections and if they win the elections,
they perform the administrative jobs.
 The active members :- They are the ones who work
actively for the party. They are the assistants of the
leaders and implement the plans and ideologies of
the political party.
 The followers :- They are the ardent followers of the
parties and their leaders and support them in the
elections.
14. “Nearly every one of the state parties wants to
get an opportunity to be a part of one or the
other national level coalition.” Support the
statement with arguments.
[3M, 2016]
A14.
 The state parties also referred to as regional parties
are not necessarily regional in ideology. Some of these
parties are all India parties that happen to have
succeeded only in some states. Over the last three
decades, the number and strength of these parties has
expanded. Before the general elections one national
party was able to secure on its own a majority in the
Lok Sabha.

 As a result, the national parties were compelled

to form alliances with state parties.

 Since 1996, nearly every one of the state parties got an

opportunity to be a part of one or the other national
level coalition government. This contributed to the
strengthening of federalism and democracy. Example
of state parties having national level political
organisation with units in several states are Samajwadi
Party (SP), Rashtriya Janata Dal, Samata Party.

15. What is meant by regional political party? State the

conditions required to be recognised as a ‘regional
political party’.
[3M,
2016]
A15.
 A regional party is a party that is present in only
some states. Regional parties or State parties need
not be regional in their ideology. They have state
identity as they are present only in some states.
Some of these parties are all India parties that
happen to have succeeded only in states. Example,
Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janta Dal.

Conditions required for a party to be recognized as a

regional political party:
 A party that secures atleast six percent of the
total votes in an election to the legislative
assembly of a state.
 Wins atleast two seats in the legislative assembly.

16. What is meant by a ‘national political party’?

State the conditions required to be a national
political party.
[3M, 2016]
A16. National political parties have their units in various
states. By and large all these units follow the same
policies, programmes and strategy that is decided at
the national level.

Conditions required to be a national political party:

 A party that secures at least 6% of the total
votes in general elections of Lok Sabha or
assembly elections in four states.
 A party that wins at least 4 seats in the Lok Sabha.
17. “Dynastic succession is one of the most serious
challenges before the political parties.” Analyse the
statement
[3M, 2015]
A17.
Most political parties do not practise open and
transparent procedures for their functioning. So there
are very few ways for an ordinary worker to rise to the
top in a party. Those who happen to be the leaders are
in a position of unfair advantage as they favour people
close to them or even their family members. In many
parties in India, we see a trend of dynastic succession.
The top positions are always controlled by members of
a particular family, which is unfair to other members of
the party, and bad for democracy. This is so because
people who do not have adequate experience or
popular support come to occupy positions of power.

More than loyalty to party principles and policies,

personal loyalty to the leader becomes more
important. This tendency is seen all over the world,
even in older democracies.

18. “Lack of internal democracy within parties is the

major challenge to political parties all over the
world”. Analyse the statement.
[3M, 2015]
A18.
1. Most political parties do not practise open and
transparent procedures for their functioning like
maintaining membership registers, holding
organisational meetings or conducting internal
elections regularly. Thus, ordinary members of the
party do not get sufficient information on the
happenings in the party and have no means to
influence the decisions.
2. Also, there are very few chances for an ordinary
worker to rise to the top in a party. Since one or, at
the most, a few leaders exercise paramount power in
the party, those who disagree with the leadership,
find it difficult to continue in the party.
3. Those who happen to be the leaders are in a position
to take undue advantage and favour people close to
them or even their family members. And, in many
parties, the top positions are invariably controlled by
members of one family which is bad for democracy.

19. What is a multi-party system? Why has India adopted

a multi- party system? Explain.
[3M, 2015]
A19.
 Multi-party system :- In this system, the government
is formed by various parties coming together in a
coalition. When several parties in a multi-party
system join hands for the purpose of contesting
elections and winning power, it is called an alliance or
a front.
  For example, in India there were three major alliances
in 2004 parliamentary elections—the National
Democratic Alliance (NDA), the United Progressive
Alliance (UPA) and the Left Front. This system on one
hand leads to political instability but at the same
time, allows for a variety of interests and opinions to
enjoy political representation.

 Each country develops a party system that is

suitable for its special circumstances. India has
evolved as a multi-party system because its social
and geographical diversity cannot be absorbed by
two or three parties. Thus, such representation
strengthens democracy. Multi-party system
facilitates representation of regional and
geographical diversities. In India, several regional
parties are in power at the State level such as the
DMK in Tamil Nadu, Akali Dal in Punjab the BSP in
Uttar Pradesh.

20. Describe the three components of a

political party.
[3M,
2014]
A20. Components of a political party are:
1. The leaders,
2. active members and
3. the followers.

o The leaders are recruited and trained by

parties. They are made ministers to run the
government. The
 big policy decisions are taken by the political
executives that come from the political parties.
o Parties have lakhs of members and activists
spread over the country. Many of the pressure
groups are the extensions of political parties
among different sections of society. But since
most of the members belong to a party, they
go by the direction of the party leadership,
irrespective of their personal opinion.
o The followers are the ordinary citizens, who
believe in the policies of their respective
party and give popular support through
elections. Often the opinion of the followers
crystallise on the lines parties take.

5 Mark Questions

21. Suggest and explain any five ways to reform Political

Parties in India
[5M, 2021 Sample
Paper]
A21.
(i) A law should be made to regulate the internal
affairs of political parties.

(ii) It should be made compulsory for political

parties to maintain a register of its
members.
 (iii) It should be made mandatory for political parties
to give a minimum number of tickets; about 1/3rd
to its women candidates.

(iv) There should be a quota for women in the decision-

making bodies of the party.

(v) There should be state funding of elections.

(vi) Vote casting should be made compulsory in each

election.

22. Illustrate the situations which display lack of

internal democracy within a political party.

[5M,
A22. 2019]

i. Parties do not keep membership registers, do

not hold organisational meetings, and do not
conduct internal elections regularly.

ii. Ordinary members of the party do not get

sufficient information on what happens
inside the party.

iii. They do not have the means or the connections

needed to influence the decisions. As a result the
leaders assume greater power to make decisions
in the name of the party.

iv. Since one or few leaders exercise paramount power

in the party, those who disagree with the leadership
find it difficult to continue in the party.
v. More than loyalty to party principles and policies,
personal loyalty to the leader becomes 5 more
important.

23. Exhibit the role of money and muscle power among

political parties during elections
[5M, 2019]
A23.
i. Since parties are focussed only on winning
elections, they tend to use shortcuts to win
elections.

ii. They tend to nominate those candidates who

have or can raise lots of money.

iii. Rich people and companies who give funds to the

parties tend to have influence on the policies and
decisions of the party.

iv. In some cases, parties support criminals who

can win elections.

v. Democrats all over the world are worried

about the increasing role of rich people and
big companies in democratic politics.
24. What is a political party? Explain any four
characteristics of a political party
[5M, 2019]
A24. Political party is an organised group of people having
a common ideology and its aim is to contest
elections and come to power.

Four characteristics/features of political parties are given

below:
 Political parties seek control over the government
through the process of election.
 Parties run the government. They ensure that a
country is governed as per set ideologies.
 Parties frame their own policies in the form of
manifestos which includes their vision on the basis
of which they would establish governance in the
country.
 Political parties make laws and policies for the
country. Members of the legislature belong to
various political parties and are guided by party
ideologies.
 Parties give representation to diverse interest in
society and give recognition to minorities.
 A politcal party has a leader, active members and
followers who support the party. (Any four)
25. Describe any five major functions of political parties
performed in a democracy.
[5M, 2018]
A25. Functions of Political Parties:
 Candidates are put forward by political parties to
contest elections. These candidates may be
chosen by the top leaders or by members of the
party. In some countries like the USA, members
and supporters of a party choose its candidate.
 Parties put forward their policies and programs for
voters to choose from them. A government is
expected to base its policies on the line taken by
the ruling party (Political party then runs
government).
 Political parties play a major role in making laws
for the country. No law can become a bill unless
majority parties support it.
 Political parties provide people access to
government machinery and welfare schemes. It is
easy for the public to approach their local party
leader than a government officer. The local party
leader has to listen to the public demand,
otherwise, people can reject them in the next
elections.
 Parties shape public opinion. They raise and
highlight issues. Parties sometimes also launch
movements for the resolution of the problem
faced by the people.

26. Describe any five efforts made to reform political

parties in India.
 [5M, 2017]
A26. Efforts have been made and further efforts should
be made for the reforms of political parties in India
by parties themselves, or law of government or by
the election commissioner.

 The constitution was amended to prevent MLAs

and MPs from changing parties to stop defection.
 The supreme court passed an order to reduce the
influence of money and criminals for active
participation in fighting MLA/MP elections.
 It is mandatory for every candidate who contests
elections to file an affidavit giving details of his
property and criminal cases pending against him.
 The election commissioner paved an order
making it necessary for political parties to hold
their organizational elections and file their
income tax returns.
 Recently cash donations to political parties have
been reduced to ₹ 2000. All cheque
payments/transfer of money have to be shown in
every party’s balance sheets.
 The new system has made a lot of information
available to the public regarding electing parties in
India.

27. Describe any five efforts made to reform political

parties in India.
[5M, 2017]
A27. Five efforts made to reform the political parties:

1. Law to regulate the internal affairs of political

parties like maintaining a register of its
members, to follow its own constitution, to have
independent authority, to act as judge in case of
party dispute, to hold open elections to the
highest post.
2. It should be mandatory for political parties to
give one- third tickets to women candidates.
Also there should be quota for women on the
decision-making bodies of the party.
3. There should be state funding of elections. The
government should give money to parties to
support their election expenses in kind (petrol,
paper, telephone, etc.) or in cash on the basis of
votes secured by the party in the previous
election.
4. The candidate should be educated, so that he can
solve and understand people’s problems. His
previous record should be cleared. He should be
honest and there should be no criminal case
against him.
5. Citizens can reform politics if they take part
directly and join political parties. People can put
pressure on political parties through petitions,
publicity in media, agitations etc.

28. Identify and explain challenges which political parties

need to face and over come in order to remain
affective instruments of democracy.
 [5M, 2016]
A28. Since parties are the most visible face in a
democracy, people blame them for whatever is
wrong with the working of democracy.

There are four major areas where the working of

political parties faces challenge:

(i) Lack of internal democracy :-There is

concentration of power in one or a few leaders at
the top. Parties do not keep membership
registers, do not hold organisational meetings
and do not conduct internal elections regularly.
More than loyalty to party principles and policies,
it is personal loyalty which becomes more
important. The leaders assume greater power to
make decisions in the name of the party. Since
one or few leaders exercise paramount power in
the party, those who disagree with leadership
find it difficult to continue in the party.

(ii) Dynastic succession :- In many parties, top

positions are always held by members of one
family. Most political parties do not practice
transparent and open procedures for their
functioning and it is very difficult for an ordinary
worker to rise to the top. This is bad for
democracy, since people who do not have
adequate experience or popular support come to
occupy positions of power.

(iii) Money and muscle power :- Since parties are

focussed only on winning elections, they tend to
use short-cuts to win elections. They nominate
candidates who have or can raise money and thus
are able to have influence on the policies and
decisions of the party.

(iv) No meaningful choice :- There has been a decline

in the ideological differences among parties. They
agree more on fundamental aspects, but differ
only in details, on how
 policies are to be framed and implemented.
Sometimes people cannot even elect different
leaders as the same set of leaders keep shifting
from one party to another.

29. “About hundred years ago there were few countries

that had hardly any political party. Now there are few
countries that do not have political parties.” Examine
this statement.
[5M, 2014]
A29.
We can understand the necessity of political parties by
imagining a situation without parties. Every candidate
in the election will be independent. Therefore, no major
policy changes will be made. Elected representatives
will be accountable to their constituency but no one will
be responsible for the smooth running of the country.
As societies become large and complex, they need an
agency to gather views on various issues and to
present them to the government. There is a need to
bring various representatives together so that a
responsible government can be formed.

A mechanism is needed to support or restrain the

government to make policies, justify or oppose them.
Political parties fulfil the needs of a representative
government and are thus a necessary condition for a
democracy.
30. Examine the role of opposition parties in a Democracy.
[5M, 2014]
A30. Opposition parties play an important role in
democracies.
They play both positive and negative role.

Positive role,
1. They ensures political party in power does not
misuse or abuse its power;
2. They expose the weaknesses of the ruling party;
3. They also keep a close vigil on the
bills and expenditure of the
government.

Negative role.
 They target the government and aim at
dislodging and discrediting the government for
all the ills and the troubles the people face;
 Through stalling the proceedings of the
parliament, dhamas and gheraos, it curtails
the progress of the country.
 The opposition’s work is not to abstract the
functioning of the administration but keep a
close watch on the working of the party in
power so that democracy becomes meaningful.