Political Parties Class 10 Political Science Chapter 6 Question Answers

 

 

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Political Science Chapter 6 Political Parties Important Questions 

 

Political Parties Important Question Answers – Given in this post is NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Political Science Chapter 6 Political Parties. The important questions we have compiled will help the students to brush up on their knowledge about the subject. Students can practice Class 10 Political Science important questions to understand the subject better and improve their performance in the board exam. The NCERT solutions provided here will also give students an idea about how to write the answers.

 

Multiple Choice Questions (1 Mark each)

1. A group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in the government is a:

1. Pressure group 
2. Political party 
3. Interest group 
4. Movement group 

Answer- B. political party 

 

2. Consider the following statements on parties

1. Political parties do not enjoy much trust among the people
2. Parties are often rocked by scandals involving top party leaders.
3. Parties are not necessary to run governments.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

1. a, b, and c
2. a and b
3. b and c
4. a and c

Answer – B. a and b 

 

3. What is the guiding philosophy of the Bharatiya Janata Party? 

1. Bahujan Samaj 
2. Revolutionary democracy 
3. Integral humanism
4. Modernity

Answer – C. Integral humanism

 

4. Who among the following is the founder of the Bahujan Samaj Party?

1. Kanshi Ram 
2. Sahu Maharaj 
3. B.R. Ambedkar 
4. Jotiba Phule

Answer – A. Kanshi Ram

 

5. Congress party is associated with 

1. National Democratic Alliance
2. United Progressive Alliance 
3. Left front 
4. State party 

Answer – B. United Progressive Alliance 

 

6. Bharatiya Janata Party is associated with 

1. National Democratic Alliance
2. United Progressive Alliance 
3. Left front 
4. State party 

Answer – A. National Democratic Alliance

 

7. Which of the following is a state/regional party-

1. All India Trinamool Congress
2. Bahujan Samaj Party
3. Communist Party of India – Marxist
4. Rashtriya Janata Dal 

Answer – D. Rashtriya Janata Dal 

 

8. When was the Indian National Congress (INC) founded?

1. 1885
2. 1999
3. 1984
4. 1998

Answer – A. 1885

 

9. According to this classification, there were _______ recognised national parties in the country in 2018.

1. Six 
2. Seven 
3. Five 
4. 750

Answer – B. seven 

 

10. Which of the following is not a component of a political party?

1. the leaders
2. the active members
3. the followers
4. the alliance 

Answer – D. the alliance

 

11. A party is known by-

1. which part it stands for
2. which policies it supports
3. whose interests it upholds
4. all of the above 

Answer- D. All of the above 

 

12. Which of the following is not a function of political parties 

1. They contest elections
2. They put forward policies and programmmes
3. They form and run governments
4. They do not shape public opinion

Answer – D. They do not shape public opinion

 

13. How many parties are registered with the Election Commission of India?

1. Nearly 500
2. More than 750
3. Less than 650
4. Uncountable 

Answer – B. More than 750

 

14. In some countries, only one party is allowed to control and run the government. These are called________

1. Monarchy 
2. Aristocracy 
3. One – party systems 
4. Dictatorships

Answer – C. One – party systems 

 

15. In which of the following countries, is there one-party system

1. China 
2. USA
3. India 
4. Pakistan

Answer – A. China

 

16. In some countries, power usually changes between two main parties, Such a party system is called______

1. Binary system
2. Two- party system 
3. Multi-party system 
4. Regime 

Answer – B. Two- party system 

 

17. United Kingdom is an example of the

1. One party system 
2. Two party system 
3. Multiparty system 
4. Monarchy 

Answer – B. Two party system

 

18. When several parties in a multi-party system join hands for the purpose of contesting elections and winning power, it is called

1. An alliance 
2. A federation
3. A front 
4. Both A and C

Answer – D. Both A and C.

 

19. Pick the odd one out.

1. the National Democratic Alliance
2. the Left Front
3. the FEDECOR
4. the United Progressive Alliance

Answer – C. the FEDECOR

 

20. which of the following is a better way of carrying out political reforms?

1. Legislatures and acts 
2. Legal actions 
3. Empowerment of people 
4. Nationalism 

Answer – C. Empowerment of people 

 

21. Democracies that follow a federal system all over the world tend to have ____ kinds of political parties.

1. Numerous 
2. Two 
3. Three 
4. None of the above

Answer – B. two 

 

22. Which of the following is a centrist party?

1. BJP 
2. INC
3. BSP
4. NCP

Answer – B. INC

 

23. Which of the following parties believes in Gandhian secularism?

1.  BJP 
2. INC
3. BSP
4. NCP

Answer – D. NCP

 

24. When was the BJP founded?

1. 1951
2. 1980
3. 1885
4. 1999

Answer – B. 1980

 

25. Which one of the following parties is a national level party?

1. Samajwadi Party 
2. Rashtriya Janata Dal 
3. National Muslim League 
4. None of the above 

Answer- D. None of the above 

 

26. Which party draws inspiration from the ideas and teachings of Sahu Maharaj, Mahatma Phule, Periyar Ramaswami Naic ker and Babasaheb Ambedkar?

1. BSP 
2. INC
3. NCP
4. CPI

Answer – A. BSP 

 

27. Shiromani Akali Dal is a state party in __________

1. Rajasthan 
2. Punjab 
3. Jammu and Kashmir
4. Maharashtra

Answer – B. Punjab

 

28. Aam Aasmi Party (AAP) is a party in_______

1. Delhi 
2. Punjab 
3. Haryana 
4. Both A and B

Answer – D. Both A and B

 

29. The Indian Union Muslim League is a regional party in_

1. West Bengal 
2. Jammu and Kashmir 
3. Kerala 
4. Delhi 

Answer – C. Kerala 

 

30. Changing party allegiance from the party on which a person got elected (to a legislative body) to a different party, is called:

1. Partisan 
2. Defection
3. Affidavit
4. Coalition

Answer – B. Defection

 

31. Which of the following facilities is offered by the Election Commission to a recognised political party?

1. Party name 
2. Manifesto 
3. Election symbol 
4. Funds 

Answer – C. Election symbol 

 

32. What is a signed document submitted to an officer regarding their personal information?

1. Declaration 
2. Affidavit 
3. Appeal 
4. Advertisement 

Answer – B. Affidavit 

 

33. Political parties are provided with unique symbols by 

1. The Election Commission 
2. The party founders 
3. The president
4. The voters 

Answer – A. the Election Commission

 

34. Which one of the following parties believes in Marxism-leninism?

1. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)
2. Communist Party of India – Marxist (CPI-M)
3. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
4. Indian National Congress (INC)

Answer – B. Communist Party of India – Marxist (CPI-M)

 

35. Which one of the following parties was formed in 1999 following a split in the Congress party?

1.  Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)
2. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)
3. Communist Party of India – Marxist (CPI-M)
4. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

Answer – A. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)

 

36. CPI-M enjoys s strong support in

1. West Bengal 
2. Kerala 
3. Tripura 
4. All of the above 

Answer – D. All of the above 

 

37. Which of the following is one of the oldest parties in the world?

1. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)
2. Communist Party of India – Marxist (CPI-M)
3. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
4. Indian National Congress (INC)

Answer – D. Indian National Congress (INC)

 

38. Parties put forward their ______ and _________ and voters get to choose from them.

1. Policies, ideologies
2. Policies, programmes
3. Views, opinions
4. Schemes, ideas

Answer – B. policies, programmes

 

39. Which of the following is not a political party?

1. BJP
2. INC
3. CPI
4. BAMCEF

Answer – D. BAMCEF

 

40. ____________ espouses democracy, Gandhian secularism, equity, social justice and federalism.

1. BSP 
2. INC
3. NCP
4. CPI

Answer – C. NCP

 

41. ___________ wants s full territorial and political integration of Jammu and Kashmir with India, a uniform civil code for all people living in the country irrespective of religion, and ban on religious conversions.

1. BJP 
2. INC
3. NCP
4. CPI

Answer – A. BJP

 

42. The e Election Commission gives a unique election symbol to ________ political parties.

1. Identified
2. Popular 
3. Recognised 
4. All of the above 

Answer – C. Recognised 

 

43. Which is the most desirable form of government?

1. Monarchy 
2. Democracy 
3. Aristocracy 
4. Dictatorship 

Answer – B. Democracy 

 

44. What is the guiding philosophy of BJP?

1. Uniform Civil Code 
2. Cultural Nationalism 
3. Antyodaya
4. All of the above 

Answer – D. All of the above 

 

45. An alliance is formed when –

1. Two or more parties come together to form a government.
2. Some parties join for purpose of contesting elections and winning power.
3. Leftist and rightist ideologies come together to form a government.
4. The state and national parties form an association for ruling

Answer – B. Some parties join for purpose of contesting elections and winning power.

 

46. A coalition is formed when- 

1. Two or more parties come together to form a government.
2. Some parties join for purpose of contesting elections and winning power.
3. Leftist and rightist ideologies come together to form a government.
4. The state and national parties form an association for ruling

Answer – A. Two or more parties come together to form a government.

 

47. Which of the following countries has a multiparty system?

1. China 
2. USA
3. India 
4. UK 

Answer – C. India 

 

48. When and under whose leadership was BSP formed?

1. 1999, Mayawati 
2. 1984, Kanshi Ram
3. 1955, Mulayam Singh Yadav 
4. 1885, Jawaharlal Nehru

Answer – B. 1984, Kanshi Ram

 

49. Indian National Congress is a _

1. Leftist party 
2. Rightist party 
3. Centrist party 
4. Socialist 

Answer – C. centrist party 

 

50. Who selects the candidates for contesting in elections?

1. Party leadership 
2. Members and activists 
3. Followers 
4. Voters 

Answer – A. Party Leadership

 

Related – Class 10 History, Geography and Political Science Important Questions 

 

Very Short Answer Type (1 Mark each)

1. If all the decisions of a political party are made by a single family and all other members are neglected, than what challenge is being faced by then party?

The challenge of dynastic succession is being face by that party.

 

2. What are National parties?

There are some countrywide parties, which are called ‘national parties.’ These parties have their units in various states. But all these units follow the same policies, programmes and strategy that is decided at the national level.

 

3. Explain the meaning of ‘Political Party.’ [CBSE Delhi, Term 2, Set 2, 2017]

A group of people known as a “political party” similar in ideology that seeks to achieve the government’s influence through the elections.

 

4. Which parties are called, ‘recognised political parties’?

Parties that get the privilege of a unique symbol and some other special facilities are ‘recognised’ by the Election Commission for this purpose, hence called, ‘recognised political parties’.

 

5. What are the criteria for a party to be recognised as a state party?

A party that secures at least six per cent of the total votes in an election to the Legislative Assembly of a State and wins at least two seats is recognised as a State party.

 

6. What are the criteria for a party to be recognised as a national party?

A party that secures at least six per cent 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 recognised as a national party.

 

7. What do you understand by the term ‘defection’?

Changing party allegiance from the party on which a person got elected (to a legislative body) to a different party is called defection.

 

8.  What is the guiding philosophy of Bharatiya Janata Party? [CBSE OC, 2015]

Cultural nationalism, or the preservation of India’s traditional culture and values, serves as the BJP’s guiding principle

 

9. Name all the seven recognised national parties in the country in 2018.

All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India – Marxist (CPI-M), Indian National Congress (INC) and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

 

10. When and by whom was the All-India Trinamool Congress launched?

The All-India Trinamool Congress launched on 1 January 1998 under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee.

 

11. In which states is the All-India Trinamool Congress present?

The All-India Trinamool Congress is present in West Bengal, Arunanchal Pradesh, Manipur and Tripura.

 

12. For which groups does the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) seeks to represent and secure power?

The BSP seeks to represent and secure power for the Bahujan samaj which includes the Dalits, Adivasis, OBCs and religious minorities.

 

13. By whom and when was the Bharatiya Jana Sangh found?

The Bharatiya Jana Sangh was formed by Syama Prasad Mukherjee in 1951.

 

14. What are the ideologies upon which the BJP is based?

The BJP is driven by Deendayal Upadhyaya’s ideas of integral humanism and Antyodaya. Cultural nationalism (or ‘Hindutva’).

 

15. What does the Communist Party of India (CPI) believe in?

The Communist Party of India (CPI) believes s in Marxism-Leninism, secularism and democracy. Opposed to the forces of secessionism and communalism.

 

16. Name any 2 state parties that are conscious of their state identity.

Mizo National Front and Telangana Rashtra Samithi.

 

17. Give one suggestion on how to improve political parties’ receptivity to public demand and need.

By only voting for political parties that promote public welfare and sustainable development.

 

18. Name the three components of a political party. [CBSE 2014]

The three components of a political party are Leaders, active participants and followers.

 

19. Name any two regional parties of West Bengal.

 Two regional parties of West Bengal are:

1. Marxist Forward Bloc
2. Trinamool Congress

20. Why is one party political system not considered a good democratic system? [CBSE 2016]

One party political system not considered a good democratic system due to lack of democratic alternatives for the voters.

 

21. What is the ideology of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)?

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) espouses democracy, Gandhian secularism, equity, social justice and federalism.

 

22. What is meant by partisan?

A person who is strongly committed to a party, group or faction is a partisan.

 

Related – CBSE Class 10 Poltical Science Chapter-wise Explanation, Notes, Question Answers

 

Short Answer Type Questions (3 marks each)

1. Explain the three components of ‘political party.’

[CBSE Delhi, Set 2, 2019]

Answer – 
i) Leader: A leader is the one who makes the party’s important choices, and his judgement serves as the party’s top directive. 
(ii) Active Members: Running in elections for the party and winning seats as representatives are another element of a political party. They are the ones who move up the social ladder from being followers to serving as the leaders’ assistants in order to learn about politics.
(iii) Supporters: The final group consists of those who back a political party and help that party win elections. They are merely the leaders’ devoted followers, and they are led well by the active members.

 

2. Explain any three functions of opposition political parties. 

[CBSE Delhi, Set 3, 2019]

Answer – following are three functions of opposition political parties

(i) They challenge the current administration and hold them responsible to the people.

(ii) Their responsibility is to make sure that the government does not do anything that would be detrimental to the general welfare of the populace.

(iii) It is their responsibility to make sure the populace benefits from the ruling party’s actions and to help the government in doing so.

 

3. State the conditions required to be recognised as a ‘regional political party’. [CBSE OD, Term 2, Set 1, 2016]

Answer- to be recognised as a ‘regional political party’ a party needs to fulfil the following criteria-

1. It must have received at least 6% of the valid votes in a Legislative Assembly election in order to be recognised as a regional political party. 
2. It should have won the most recent general election in at least three states.
3. It should have secured at least two seats in elections for the Legislative Assembly.

 

4. Which three challenges do you feel are being faced by political parties in India? Give your opinion. [CBSE OD, Term 2, Set 1, 2016]

Answer – 
i) Money and muscle power: Candidates who have the ability to raise money are nominated, and these abilities are evident around election time.
ii) Dynamic succession: Top leaders unfairly have a tendency to favour their friends and families, which results in family dynasties controlling the top posts.
iii) Voters are not given a real choice by parties because there are few differences between them and yet they frequently form new parties, giving them poor options.
 

5. What is meant by a ‘national political party’? State the conditions required to be a national political party. [CBSE Delhi, Term 2, Set 1, 2016]

Answer – 

A party is recognised as a national party if it receives at least 6% of the vote in the Lok Sabha or Assembly elections in four states and wins at least four seats in the Lok Sabha.

 

Political parties are referred to as national parties if:

(i) At a general election for the House of the People or the State Legislative Assembly, it receives at least six percent (6%) of the legitimate votes cast in any four or more states;

(ii) It also secures at least four victories from any State or States in the House of Representatives.

 

6. ‘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. [CBSE Delhi, Term 2, Set 3, 2016]

Answer – State parties are hoping to join a coalition because, prior to the 2014 general election, no national party was able to win a majority in the Lok Sabha on its own. 

The national parties were consequently compelled to join forces with state or regional parties. As a result, democracy and federalism have become stronger.

Thus, nearly every one of the state parties wants to get an opportunity to be a part of one or the other national level coalition as it strengthens democracy and federalism while helping with the formation of a government in case of no clear majority.

 

7. How do money and muscle power play an important role in elections? Explain. [CBSE OD, Term 2, Set 2, 2015]

Answer – 
i) The importance of money and muscle power, particularly during elections, is increasing.
(ii) Parties frequently designate candidates who have a lot of money or the ability to raise it. Furthermore, a lot of effort is put into generation of party funds for election campaigns.

(iii) Wealthy individuals and businesses that donate money to political parties frequently have a say in the party’s policies and choices.

(iv) Thus, money and muscle power seem to be a driving force in elections.

 

8. What is a multi-party system? Why has India adopted a multi-party system? Explain. [CBSE Delhi, Term 2, Set 1, 2015]

Answer –  

A multi-party system is a democracy in which there are more than two parties and many ways for the populace to select their leaders. India has accepted it because:

1. It enables the administration of such a vast nation as India, which has a great deal of diversity.
2. It entails improved long-term performance and more competitive elections.
3. It instils in us the democratic spirit. A multi-party system upholds democracy’s ideals. No nation can fully develop democracy without a multi-party system.

 

9. ‘‘Lack of internal democracy within parties is the major challenge to political parties all over the world.’’ Analyse the statement. [CBSE Delhi, Term 2, Set 1, 2015]

Answer – 

1. Political parties have a tendency to concentrate power in the hands of one or a small number of leaders everywhere in the globe.
2. Sometimes this happens as the problem of dynastic succession.
3. Parties do not frequently run for office, hold meetings, or maintain membership registers.
4. Parties often do not hold organizational meetings.

 

10. What is a political party? State any two points of the ideology of Bharatiya Janta Party? [CBSE 2016]

Answer – 

A political party is a group of individuals who come together to contest elections and control the government.

They come to an agreement on a few social policies and programmes with the intention of promoting the common good.

 

BJP ideology:

1. Supports Jammu and Kashmir’s complete political and territorial integration with India.
2. A uniform civil code that applies to everyone who lives in the nation, regardless of religion.

 

Related – Class 10 Geography MCQs

 

Source Based Questions (1 X 4 = 4 Marks each)

 

1. Study the following image

 

 

Image credits – 

NCERT textbook in political science for class 10 Democratic Politics

 

Now write the different functions of political parties they illustrate.

1. Activists of BJP Mahila Morcha demonstrate against hike in prices of onions and LPG in Visakhapatnam.

 

Parties playing the role of opposition.

 

2. Minister distributes Rs One lakh cheque to the families of hooch victims at their houses.

 

Parties provide people access to government machinery and welfare schemes implemented by governments.

 

3. Activists of CPI (M), CPI, OGP and JD (S) take out a rally in Bhubaneswar to protest against POSCO, the Korean steel company for being permitted by the State Government to export iron ore from Orissa to feed steel plants in China and Korea.

 

Parties shape public opinion

 

4. Mention any other feature of a political party.

 

Parties put forward different policies and programmes and the voters choose from them.

 

Long Answer Type (5 marks each)

 

1. Describe any five functions of a political party. [CBSE Delhi, Set 1, 2020]

Answer – following are the functions of a political party- 

(i) They run for elections through their candidates, who are picked either by the party’s top officials or by its members.

 

(ii) During the election process, they run their own campaigns.

 

(iii) In a democracy, the political party chosen by the voters has a significant influence on the laws that are enacted.

 

(iv) The political parties hire various leaders, educate them, and appoint them as ministers of various departments.

 

(v) A political party serves as a link between the people and the government. Unlike a government official, the local leader is more accessible to the common public.

 

2. What is a political party? Explain any four characteristics of a political party. [CBSE OD, Set 1, 2019]

Answer – 

1. Political parties use elections to try to gain control over the government. They seek a share in political power.
2. The government is run by parties. They make sure a nation is run in accordance as per set ideologies. Parties recruit leaders, train them and then make them ministers to run the government in the way they want.
3. Parties form their own policies in the form of manifestos which include their ideas of establishing governance.
4. Political parties make the nation’s laws and policies. Legislative members come from different political parties and follow the party ideologies.
5. Parties provide people access to government machinery and welfare schemes implemented by governments. Parties have to be responsive to people’s needs and demands. Otherwise people can reject those parties in the next elections.

 

3. ‘‘No party system is ideal for all countries and in all situations.’’ Analyse the statement. [CBSE OD, Term 2, Set 3, 2017]

Answer – 

1. Because all nations and democracies have unique social situations, economic successes, and cultural traditions, they also have unique political situations that give rise to unique party systems.
2. A nation cannot select its own party system. It develops slowly and gradually.
3. The country’s social and regional differences, its political history, and its elections system all affect the party system.
4. India’s developed multiparty system because it is difficult for just two parties to represent this very diverse country.
5. Not all nations have this kind of diversity, hence they might not require multiparty systems. As a result, no party system is perfect for every nation or circumstance.

 

4. Examine the main ‘challenges’ before ‘political parties.’

[CBSE Delhi, Term 2, Set 3, 2017]

Answer – 

1. In general, family members have a tendency to control the party. 
2. Parties nominate candidates that have a lot of money or the ability to raise it because they are only interested in gaining power.
3. The ordinary members do not receive enough information about what is happening within the party. The leader typically controls the party and has more power.
4. They don’t provide voters a meaningful selection because there are so many parties, all of which have different programmes, policies ideologies.
5. Some political groups or politicians support the dominant religious group at the expense of minorities.

 

5. ‘‘All over the world, people express their dissatisfaction with the failure of political parties to perform their functions well.’’ Analyse the statement with arguments. [CBSE Delhi, Term 2, Set 2, 2016]

Answer – 

Political parties are necessary for democracy due to the following reasons:

 

1. They bring people together who share the same political ideas.
2. They provide organisational support as well. The party machine, also referred to as the party’s extra-parliamentary branch, is in charge of organising and funding election campaigns, creating policy, and enlisting new members.
3. They create policies that benefit the population.
4. They frequently come up in community debates and discussions about politics.

 

However, political parties struggle to carry out their duties as a result of the following difficulties they encounter:

1. Internal organisation  development
2.   Successive dynasties
3. The absence of substantive and ideological alternatives
4. Upholding democracy inside the parties.

 

6. Suggest any five effective measures to reform political parties. 

[CBSE 2015,2012]

Answer – the following measures may be taken up to bring reform to the political parties- 

1. Political party internal issues should be governed by the law and their working must be scrutinized by legal institutions.
2. Political parties should be required to keep their membership records documented. 
3. Political parties must to be required to allocate a certain proportion of their tickets—roughly one-third—to female candidates. 
4. There should be a set percentage of women in the party’s decision-making structures. 
5. Elections should be funded by the state. Voting should be compulsory in every election. 
6. During election season, no information regarding caste, religion, OBC, SC, or ST should be used in any way.

 

7. Why can’t modern democracies exist without the political parties? 

[CBSE II, 2015, 2011]

Answer – Democracies cannot exist without political parties.

 If political parties do not exist, then every candidate running for election will be an independent. There will not exist any institution that reflects and gives voice to fundamental political divisions in a society.

Nobody will be able to promise the people any significant policy reforms.

 Even if a government is established, its effectiveness is still unknown. 

No one will be in charge of how the country is administered; instead, elected representatives will be responsible for their constituents for what they do locally.

 Political parties are necessary because they play an important role in a democracy as the opposition party as well.

 

8. What is a multi-party system? Explain merits and demerits of multi-party system.

Answer – 

If there are multiple parties competing for control and more than two of them have a viable possibility of winning, either independently or through an alliance.

 

Merits:

1. A range of interests and ideas can benefit from political representation under this system.
2. There will availability of diverse ideologies and various candidates from which people can choose and vote for.

 

Demerits:

1. Single party is unlikely to gain power. As a result, it makes it harder to create a government.
2. This may cause political instability and the entire political system may seem to be very disorganised and a bit chaotic.