Please refer to below Exam Question for Class 10 Social Science Chapter 6 Political Parties. These questions and answers have been prepared by expert Class 10 Social Science teachers based on the latest NCERT Book for Class 10 Social Science and examination guidelines issued by CBSE, NCERT, and KVS. We have provided Class 10 Social Science exam questions for all chapters in your textbooks. You will be able to easily learn problems and solutions which are expected to come in the upcoming class tests and exams for standard 10th.

Chapter 6 Political Parties Class 10 Social Science Exam Question

All questions and answers provided below for Exam Question Class 10 Social Science Chapter 6 Political Parties are very important and should be revised daily.

Exam Question Class 10 Social Science Chapter 6 Political Parties

Objective Type Questions

Question. Several parties compete for power and more than two parties have a reasonable chance of coming to power either on their own strength or in alliance with others. It is called
(a) Multi-party system
(b) One-party system
(c) Bi-party system
(d) None of these
Answer : (a) Multi-party system

Question. Which of the following is the characteristic of a political party?
(a) Every party has a certain structure. The group of people is organised in a proper way. Every member is aware of his role and responsibilities in the party.
(b) All the members agree on some policies and programmes for the society with a view to promote the collective good. They seek to implement these policies by winning popular support through elections.
(c) Political parties reflect fundamental political divisions in a society. Parties are about a part of the society and thus involve partnership.
(d) All of the above
Answer : (d) All of the above

Question. Today democratic countries are worried about the increasing role of:
(a) rich people
(b) large companies
(c) both (a) and (b)
(d) politicians
Answer : (c) both (a) and (b)

Question. In which of the following Schedule of the Constitution of India deals with anti-defection low?
(a) Eighth Schedule
(b) Ninth Schedule
(c) Tenth Schedule
(d) Eleventh Schedule
Answer : (c) Tenth Schedule

Question. _________ recognises a party as National Party or State Party.
(a) The President of India
(b) The Prime Minister of India
(c) The Election Commission of India
(d) The Chief Election Commission
Answer : (c) The Election Commission of India

Question. More than __________ parties are registered with the Election Commission of India.
(a) 800
(b) 900
(c) 750
(d) 650
Answer : (c) 750

Question. Which one of the following countries has one-party system?
(a) India
(b) UK
(c) USA
(d) China
Answer : (d) China

Question. The ______________ of India passed an order making it necessary for political parties to file their income tax returns.
Answer : Election Commission

Question. State whether the following statements are true or false
In India, people express strong dissatisfaction with the failure of political parties to perform their functions well.
Answer : True

Question. State whether the following statements are true or false
In India, ordinary members of the political party get all internal informations of the party.
Answer : False

Question. In the question given below, there are two statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read the statements and choose the correct option:
Assertion (A): We need political party.
Reason (R): Political parties play a decisive role in making laws for a country.
Options:
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true.
Answer : (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

Question. Match the following

National Parties	Foundation year
(i) CPI	(a) 1964
(ii) INC	(b) 1999
(iii) BJP	(c) 1885
(iv) CPI-M	(d) 1980
(v) NCP	(e) 1925

Answer : (i)–(e), (ii)–(c), (iii)–(d), (iv)–(a), (v)–(b)

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question. How do the parties select their candidates?
Answer : Parties select their candidates in different ways:
(i) In USA: The members and supporters of a party choose its candidate.
(ii) In India: Top party leaders choose candidates for contesting elections.

Question. What are the various challenges faced by a political party?
OR
Mention the challenges faced by a political party in democracies all over the world.
Answer : The various challenges faced by a political party are:
(i) Lack of internal democracy
(ii) Dynastic succession
(iii) Money and Muscle Power
(iv) Meaningful choice to the voters
(v) Corruption3. What do you mean by ‘Ruling Party’?
Answer : A political party that run the government is called a ruling party.

Question. It is a good democratic set-up to have one party system. Explain.
Answer : We cannot consider one party system as a good option because this is not a democratic set-up. Any democratic system must allow at least two parties to compete in elections and provide a foes chance for the competing parties to come to powers.

Question. What is partisanship?
Answer : Partisanship is marked with a tendency to take a side and inability to take a balanced view on an issue.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question. Describe about the ideology and organisation of Bahujan Samaj Party.
Answer : Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) formed in 1984 under the leadership of Kanshi Ram, draws inspiration from the ideas and teachings of Sahu Maharaj.
Features of BSP:
(i) It stands for the cause of securing the interests and welfare of the dalits and oppressed people.
(ii) It has its main base in the state of Uttar Pradesh and substantial presence in neighbouring states like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Delhi and Punjab.
(iii) It formed government in Uttar Pradesh several times by taking support of different parties at different times.

Question. Explain any four problem areas in the working of political parties.
Answer : (i) The first problem is lack of internal democracy within parties. Concentration of power in one or few leaders at the top.
(ii) Favour people close to them or even their family members. In many parties, the top positions are always controlled by members of one family.
(iii) The third problem is about growing role of money and muscle power in parties, especially during elections.
(iv) The fourth problem is that very often parties do not seem to offer a meaningful choice to the voters.

Question. What measures were adopted to prevent the practice of ‘defection.’
Answer : Measures adopted to prevent this practice:
(i) The Constitution was amended to prevent elected MLAs and MPs from changing parties. This was done because many elected representatives were indulging in defection, in order to become ministers or for cash rewards.
(ii) Now, the law says that if any MLA or MP changes parties, he or she will lose seat in the legislature.
(iii) The new law has brought defection down and has made dissent even more difficult. Now MLAs and MPs have to accept whatever party leaders say.

Question. State the conditions as laid down by the Election Commission to recognize a ‘state party’ and ‘national party’.
Answer : The difference between a state and a national party can be identified as follows:
(i) In a state party, the party members aim to highlight the regional interests. On the other hand, a national party gives due importance to national interests.
(ii) A state party can contest in elections only in a particular state, whereas a national party can contest in elections all across the country.
(iii) Example: BJP and Congress are national parties, whereas Akali Dal and Trinamool Congress are state level parties.

Question. “Dynastic succession is one of the most serious challenges before the political parties.” Analyse the statement. 
Answer : Dynastic succession is one of the most serious challenges before the political parties because:
(i) Most political parties do not practice open and transparent procedures for their functioning.
(ii) There are few ways for an ordinary worker to rise to the top in a party.
(iii) In many parties, the top positions are always controlled by members of one family.
(iv) This practice is unfair to other members of that party and is also bad for a democracy.
(v) People who do not have adequate experience or popular support come to occupy position of power.

Question. Name the national political party which espouses secularism and welfare of weaker sections and minorities. Mention any four features of that party.
Answer : The national political party which espouses secularism and welfare of weaker sections and minorities is the Indian National Congress. Four features of this party are listed below:
(i) Founded in 1885.
(ii) Dominated Indian politics, both at the national and state levels, for several decades after India’s independence.
(iii) Ruling party at the centre till 1977 and then from 1980 to 1989. After 1989, its support declined.
(iv) A centrist party (neither rightist nor leftist) in its ideological orientation.

Question. Why were democrats from all over the world worried about the increasing role of rich people and big companies in democratic politics?
Answer : Democrats all over the world are worried about the increasing role of rich people and big companies in democratics politics because—
(i) Rich people and companies who give funds to the parties tend to have influence on the policies and decisions of the party.
(ii) Since parties are focussed only on winning elections therefore they tend to nominate those candidates who have or can raise lots of money. These people manipulate the democratic elections in their own ways.

Question. What is meant by ‘defection’ in democracy? Explain.
Answer : (i) Defection in politics means moving of a person from one party to another party for some personal benefit. It means changing party allegiance from the party on which a person got elected to a different party.
(ii) It happens when a legislature, after having been elected from a particular party leaves it and joins in other party.
(iii) The Constitution was amended to prevent elected MLAs and MPs from changing parties. Now the law says that if any MLA and MP changes parties, he or she will lose seat in the legislature.
(iv) The new law has brought defection down and has made dissent even more difficult.

Question. What are the disadvantages of political parties?
Answer : Disadvantages or Demerits of Political Parties:
(i) Some leaders of political parties indulge in corrupt means such as rigging, unfair means, boothcapturing to capture power.
(ii) Top leaders of political parties concentrate all powers in their hands and dominate over the others ministers.
(iii) Some political parties divide people on caste, religion, region and language basis and create factionalism (division).
(iv) Some political parties encourage casteism and communalism to keep their vote-bank intact.

Question. Describe any three main features of Two-Party system.
Answer : Main features of two-party system:
(i) Power usually changes between two parties, several other parties may exist.
(ii) In such system, people get clear choice.
(iii) The party that wins majority forms the government and the other sits in opposition.
(iv) Strong opposition is good for democracy.
(v) Prompt decisions are taken and implemented.
(vi) More development and less corruption.

Question. What is a political party? Write its functions.
Answer : A political party is a group of people who aim to attain power in the government through the elections. In other words, it is a group of people with similar policies and programmes, who come together to contest elections and hold power in the government.
Its functions:
(i) They formulate various policies and programmes for the society.
(ii) They work for the collective public interest.
(iii) They agree on some programmes and policies for the society with a view to promote collective good.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question. How do money and muscle power play an important role in elections? Explain.
OR
Exhibit the role of money and muscle power among political parties during elections.
Answer : • Since parties are focused only on winning elections, they tend to use shortcuts to win elections.
• They tend to nominate those candidates who have or can raise lots of money.
• Rich people and companies who give funds to the parties tend to have influence on the policies and decisions of the party.
• In some cases, parties support criminals who can win elections.
• Democrats all over the world are worried about the increasing role of rich people and big companies in democratic politics.

Question. Examine any two institutional amendments made by different institutions to reform political parties and their leaders.
OR
Elucidate some of the recent efforts taken in our country to reform political parties and its leaders.
Answer : (i) The Constitution was amended to prevent elected MLA’s and MP’s from changing parties. This was done because many elected representatives were indulging in defection in order to become ministers or for cash rewards. Now, if any MLA or MP changes parties, he or she will lose the seat in the legislature.
(ii) The Supreme Court passed an order to reduce the influence of money and criminals. Now, 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 new system has made a lot of information available to the public. But there is no system to check if the information given by the candidates is true.
(iii) The Election Commission passed an order making it necessary for political parties to hold their organisational elections and file their income tax returns.
(iv) The parties have started doing so but sometimes it is mere formality. It is not clear if this step has led to greater internal democracy in political parties.

Question. What is a multi-party system? Explain merits and demerits of multi-party system.
Answer : If several parties compete for power and more than two parties have a reasonable chance of coming to power either on their own strength or in alliance with others, we call it a multi-party system.
Merits :
(i) This system allows a variety of interests and opinions to enjoy political representation.
(ii) People can make a choice between several candidates.
Demerits:
(i) No one party is likely to gain power alone. Therefore, it leads to difficulty in formation of government.
(ii) Leads to political instability and often appears to be very messy.

Question. What is meant by national parties? State the criteria for recognizing a party as National and State party.
Answer : 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 federation. Those parties which are countrywide parties are called national parties.
State and National Parties:
(i) 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 recognized as a state party.
(ii) A party that secures at least six per cent of the total votes in the 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.

Question. State the various functions political parties perform in a democracy?
OR
Explain the importance of political parties in modern democracy.
OR
Describe any five major functions of political parties.
Answer : (i) Parties shape public opinion. They raise and highlight issues. Parties sometimes also launch movements for the resolution of problems faced by people. Often opinions in the society crystallise on the lines parties take.
(ii) Parties put forward different policies and programmes and the voters choose from them. In a democracy, a large number of similar opinions have to be grouped together to provide a direction in which policies can be formulated by the governments. A government is expected to base its policies on the line taken by the Ruling party.
(iii) Parties play a decisive role in making laws for a country. Formally laws are debated and passed in the legislature. But since most of the members belong to a party, they go by the direction of the party leadership, irrespective of their personal opinions.
(iv) Parties form and run governments. Parties recruit leaders, train them and then make them ministers to run the government in the way they want.
(v) Those parties that lose in the elections play the role of opposition to the parties in power by voicing different views and criticising government for its failure or wrong policies.

Question. Write the difference between National and state parties.
Answer :

Question. What is the need of political parties?
OR
“Political parties are a necessary condition for a democracy”. Analyse the statement with examples.
OR
Why can’t modern democracies exist without the political parties? Explain any four reasons.
OR
Imagine a situation without political parties in the country and describe it.
OR
Explain the necessity of political parties in a democracy.
Answer : “Political parties are necessary condition for a democracy” because:
(i) We cannot think modern democracies without political parties. In case there are no political parties every candidate in the elections will be independent, no one will be able to make any promises to the people about any major policy changes. The government may be formed, but its utility will remain always uncertain.
(ii) Elected representatives will be accountable to their constituency for what they do in the locality. But, no one will be responsible for how the country will run. Just look at the non-party based elections to the Panchayats in many states.
(iii) Political parties agree on policies and programmes to promote collective good and influence people to know why their policy is better than others. They try to implement the policies by winning popular support through elections. They reflect fundamental division in a society.
(iv) The absence of political parties would affect a democracy badly. The interest of all the people would not reach the Parliament, and, therefore, some sections of people would remain behind the mainstream. They won’t get all the welfare measures.
(v) The role of opposition party in a democracy necessitates the existence of political parties.
(vi) As societies become large and complex they also need some agencies to gather different views on various issues and to present these to the government, that’s why political parties are needed.

Question. Describe the role of opposition party in democracy.
OR
Explain any three functions of opposition political parties.
Answer : The role of opposition party in democracy:
(i) To criticise the government for its failures or wrong policies.
(ii) They mobilise opposition to the government.
(iii) To check the government from becoming authoritarian and restrict its powers.
(iv) To safeguard the liberty and rights of the people.
(v) They have the right to check the undue expenditure of the government.
(vi) During the question hour, the opposition parties criticise the government generally.

Question. Describe the various party systems existing in different countries.
OR
Discuss the classification of party system on the basis of the number of parties in the political system.
Answer : political party is a group of people that aims to control the government to carry out their general policies. Different countries have different party system like:
(i) One Party system in China
(ii) Two-Party system in USA/UK
(iii) Multi-Party system in India
One Party System: There is only one party in the political system. There is no competition in the system and people have no choice in the elections. The people are not allowed to go against the government and form their own new parties. For example, Communist party of China.
Two Party System: Some countries have two major parties in the system only the two main parties have a serious chance of winning majority seats to form the government. For example, USA and UK.
Multi-Party System: If several parties compete for power and more than two parties have a reasonable chance of coming to power either on their own strength or in alliance with others, we call it a multi-party system.

Picture Based Questions

Question. Study the cartoon and answer the question.

Which of the following options best signifies this cartoon?
(a) Lack of internal democracy.
(b) Money and muscle power.
(c) Corporate America controls all major institutions of the country.
(d) Most political parties do not practice open and transparent procedures.
Answer : (c) Corporate America controls all major institutions of the country.

Case Based Questions

Question. Read the source given below and answer the questions by choosing the most appropriate option.

If several parties compete for power, and more than two parties have a reasonable chance of coming to power either on their own strength or in alliance with others, we call it a multiparty system. Thus in India, we have a multiparty 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 such major alliances in 2004 parliamentary elections–the National Democratic Alliance, the United Progressive Alliance and the Left Front. The multiparty system often appears very messy and leads to political instability. At the time, this system allows a variety of interests and opinions to enjoy political representation.

(i) Which of the following statements associated with the advantage of multiparty system?
(a) It provides choice to the voters.
(b) It provides no choice to the voters.
(c) Regional parties get the representation.
(d) There is a possibility of conflict.
Answer : (a) It provides choice to the voters.

(ii) Which of the following statements is correct about a coalition government?
(a) Many parties compete for power.
(b) The government is formed by two or more parties coming together.
(c) Two parties only form an alliance and contest election.
(d) Only one party comes in power.
Answer : (b) The government is formed by two or more parties coming together.

(iii) Which country has adopted multi-party system?
Answer : India

(iv) Which coalition government is in power at centre India in present?
Answer : National Democratic Alliance (NDA)

Question. Read the source given below and answer the questions by choosing the most appropriate option.

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 federation. This is the case in India as well. There are some countrywide parties, which are called ‘national parties’. These parties have their units in various states. But by and large, all these units follow the same policies, programmes and strategy that is decided at the national level. Every party in the country has to register with the Election Commission. While the Commission treats all parties equally, it offers some special facilities to large and established parties. These parties are given a unique symbol only the official candidates of that party can use that election symbol. Parties that get this privilege and some other special facilities are ‘recognised’ by the Election Commission for this purpose. That is why these parties are called, ‘recognised political parties’. The Election Commission has laid down detailed criteria of the proportion of votes and seats that a party must get in order to be a recognised 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. 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.

(i) What do you know about Federal System?
(a) It is a system of government under which the power is divided between a central authority and its various constituent units.
(b) The various constituent units and the central authority run their administrative independently.
(c) These units and central authority do not interfere in the affairs of one another unnecessarily.
(d) All of the above
Answer : (d) All of the above

(ii) The Party that secure at least ________ per cent the total votes in the 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.
(a) four
(b) six
(c) five
(d) seven
Answer : (b) six

(iii) Who issues a Model Code of Conduct for political parties?
Answer : The Election Commission

(iv) Who allots symbols for the political parties in India?
Answer : The Election Commission

Question. Read the source given below and answer the questions by choosing the most appropriate option.

The parties do not seem to offer a meaningful choice to the voters. In order to offer meaningful choice, parties must be significantly different. In recent years there has been a decline in the ideological differences among parties in most parts of the world. For example, the difference between the Labour Party and the Conservative Party in Britain is very little. They agree on more fundamental aspects but differ only in details on how policies are to be framed and implemented. In our country too, the differences among all the major parties on the economic policies have reduced. Those who want really different policies have no option available to them. Some times people cannot even elect every different leaders either, because the same set of leaders keep shifting from one party to another.

(i) There has been a decline in the ideological difference among parties in most parts of the world. In this context which among the following options is correct?
(a) Lack of internal democracy
(b) Dynastic Succession
(c) Meaningful choice to vote
(d) Corruption
Answer : (c) Meaningful choice to vote

(ii) The people should elect only those only those ___________ who possess the skill to fulfil the needs of citizens.
(a) political candidates
(b) Members of Parliament
(c) Members of Legislative Assembly
(d) democratic leaders
Answer : (a) political candidates

(iii) What do help in promoting the meaningful choice to the voters in India?
Answer : The differences among all the major parties on the economic polices have reduced and those who want really different policies have no option available to them. Sometimes people cannot even elect very different leaders.

(iv) Why do people express their dissatisfaction with the failure of political parties to perform their functions well?
Answer : There is not a meaningful choice to the voters.