Ramana Vidyalaya (CBSE), Sholinganallur

. Answer Key - 3
Power Sharing (June 2025)

General Instructions:
​ Answer key to be used only to cross check the answers.
​ Print out of the answer keys should not be taken.
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Answer the following questions briefly:

1. Give a brief sketch on the ethnic composition of Belgium & Sri Lanka? (5)
Ethnic Composition of Belgium
● 59% speaks Dutch language
● 40% of people speak French and
● The remaining 1% speak German.
Ethnic composition of Sri Lanka
● Sinhala-speakers (74 per cent)
● Tamil-speakers (18 per cent).
● Among Tamils there are two sub-groups. Tamil natives of the country
are called ‘Sri Lankan Tamils’ (13 per cent).
● Most of the Sinhala-speaking people are Buddhists, while most of the Tamils are
Hindus or Muslims.

2. How were the ethnic problems solved in Belgium? or Explain the Policy of Accommodation
followed by the Belgian Government. (5)

The Constitution of Belgium prescribes that

● the number of Dutch and French-speaking ministers shall be equal in

the Central Government.
● Some special laws require the support of the majority of members from
each linguistic group. Thus, no single community can make decisions
unilaterally.
● The state governments are not subordinate to the Central Government.
● Brussels has a separate government in which both communities have
equal representation.
● Apart from the Central and the State Government, there is a third kind
of the government. This ‘community government’ is elected by people
belonging to one language community – Dutch, French and
German-speaking – no matter where they live. This government has the
power to deal with issues related to languages, education etc.,

3. a) What is Majoritarianism? (2)

It is a belief that the majority community should be able to rule a country in
whichever way it wants by disregarding the demands of the minorities.

b) How has it increased the feeling of alienation among the Sri Lankan Tamils in Sri Lanka?
(3)
 ●​ In 1956, an act was passed by the Sri Lankan government to recognize Sinhala as
their only official language disregarding tamil.
●​ The new constitution stipulated that the state shall protect and foster Buddhism.
●​ The Sinhala community followed preferential policies that favored Sinhala
applicants for university positions and government jobs.
●​ These measures taken by the government gradually increased the feeling of
alienation among the Sri Lankan Tamils.
●​ Sri Lankan Tamils felt that the constitution and government policies denied them
equal political rights, discriminated against them in getting jobs and other
opportunities and ignored their interests.

4. How does the distrust between the two communities turn into widespread conflict in Sri
Lanka? (5) (or) How do the Sri Lankan Tamils react towards the steps taken by the
Sinhalese government?
●​ The Sinhala community followed preferential policies that favored Sinhala applicants for
university positions and government jobs.
●​ Sri Lankan Tamils felt that the constitution and government policies denied them equal
political rights, discriminated against them in getting jobs and other opportunities and
ignored their interests.
●​ Due to which the relationship between the Sinhala and Tamil communities became poor.
●​ Sri Lankan Tamils launched parties and struggles for the recognition of Tamil as an
official language, for regional autonomy and equality of opportunity in securing education
and jobs.
●​ But their demand was repeatedly denied by the government
●​ By the 1980s several political organizations were formed demanding an independent
Tamil Eelam (state) in northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka.
●​ The distrust between the two communities turned into widespread conflict and turned into
a CIVIL WAR.

5. a) What is Power sharing? (2)

Power sharing is a term used to describe a system of governance in which all
major segments of society are provided a permanent share of power

b) Why is power sharing desirable? (Two reasons of Power sharing) (3)

● Prudential Reasons: It helps to reduce the possibility of conflict and clashes between
social groups.It is a good way to ensure political order.
● Moral reasons - Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy.A democratic rule
involves sharing power with those affected by its exercise, and who have to live with
its effects. People have the right to be consulted on how they are to be governed.

6. Differentiate between horizontal and vertical power sharing. (5)

 7. “Power may also be shared among different social groups”.
Evaluate the statement. (3)
● In some countries, there are constitutional and legal arrangements whereby socially
weaker sections and women are represented in the legislatures and administration.
Otherwise the backward social groups feel alienated from the society.
● The idea of ‘reserved constituencies’ in assemblies and the parliament of our country is
meant to give space in the government and administration to diverse social groups
..This method is used to give minority communities a fair share in power.
● ‘Community government’ in Belgium is a good example of this arrangement.

8. Explain the power sharing arrangement among the political parties and pressure groups. (3)

●​ In democracy, People have the power to choose their leader. There should be a
competition to choose the leader. Such competition ensures that the power does not
remain in one hand.
●​ In the long run, power is shared among different political parties that represent different
ideologies and social groups.
●​ Sometimes, two or more parties join together and form alliances to contest elections. If
this alliance is elected, they form a government called ‘Coalition government’ and share
power.
●​ In a democracy, we find interest groups such as those of traders, businessmen,
industrialists, farmers and industrial workers. They also will have a share in
governmental power through their participation in the decision making process.

HOTS
9. Can you adopt the Belgian model of power sharing arrangement in India? Why/Why not? (3)
● No, we cannot adopt Belgian policy in India.
● The Belgian model is quite complicated which can be adopted in a country
where the variations in ethnic groups are less in number.
● India is a diverse country with various ethnic groups based on language,
religion, culture etc., it would lead to confusion and even conflict among
the people and divide the country into smaller units.
 ● Giving equal representation in the legislative body for all ethnic groups is
very difficult in practice in India.

10. Can you say India as an example for an effective power sharing arrangement?
Give your arguments. (3)
▪ ∙ In India, we have three separate organs of government (Legislative, Executive,
judiciary)
▪ ∙ We have three levels of government – Central, State and Local

▪ ∙ Religions have their community government.

▪ ∙ Reservations for women, backward classes and minorities

▪ ∙ Coalition governments are formed by the political parties.

11. The formation of a coalition government is an example of Power sharing arrangement in India.
Explain.

●​ In India , it is a multi-party system. Many political parties compete in elections for power.
●​ A single political party winning an election with absolute majority is a difficult task.
●​ Hence many parties come together and form alliances and if this alliance wins elections, a
coalition government is formed. The majority party has to share its power with the other
parties in such a government.

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