Chapter 4 Political Parties Class 10 NCERT Civics

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Role of Political Parties in Democracy:
Discover how political parties in India shape governance, contest elections,
influence policy-making, and strengthen democratic processes.

Chapter 4 Political Parties

Class 10 NCERT Civics: Democratic Politics-II

Updated for 2024-2025 Exams

 

Q.1 State the various functions political
parties perform in a democracy.

Ans.

  1. Contest Elections: Political parties nominate
    candidates for elections and contest to hold power.
  2. Policy Formation: They propose different policies
    and programmes for voters to choose from.
  3. Law Making: Parties help in the law-making
    process in the legislature.
  4. Forming and Running Governments: Winning parties form and run the
    government.
  5. Role of Opposition: Parties that lose elections act
    as the opposition, voicing alternative views.
  6. Public Opinion Formation: They shape public opinion by
    raising and highlighting issues.
  7. Providing Access to Government: Parties act as a link between
    citizens and the government, facilitating access to welfare schemes.

Q.2 What are the various challenges faced
by political parties?

Ans.

  1. Lack of Internal Democracy: Concentration of power in the
    hands of a few leaders, lack of transparency, and absence of regular
    internal elections.
  2. Dynastic Succession: Leadership positions are often
    inherited by family members, creating unfair advantages.
  3. Money and Muscle Power: The use of money and influence
    by wealthy individuals or companies and the involvement of criminals in
    elections.
  4. Lack of Meaningful Choices: In many cases, there is little
    ideological difference between parties, reducing meaningful choices for
    voters.

Q.3 Suggest some reforms to strengthen
parties so that they perform their functions well.

Ans.

  1. Internal Democracy: A law should be introduced to
    ensure internal democracy, including regular internal elections and
    transparent procedures.
  2. Reservation for Women: It should be made mandatory for
    parties to give a minimum of one-third of election tickets to women.
  3. State Funding of Elections: The government should provide
    financial support for political parties to reduce dependence on wealthy
    donors and muscle power.
  4. Transparency in Funding: Political parties must disclose
    the source of their funds to ensure transparency.
  5. Strict Regulation on Candidates: Parties should be prohibited
    from nominating candidates with criminal backgrounds.

Q.4 What is a political party?

Ans. A political party is a group of people
who come together to contest elections, hold power in government, and promote a
set of policies and programs for society. They reflect different political
divisions and act as key players in democratic processes.

Q.5 What are the characteristics of a
political party?

Ans.

  1. Contest Elections: Political parties field
    candidates in elections to seek power.
  2. Policy Agreement: Members of the party agree on
    specific policies and programmes to promote collective interests.
  3. Political Leadership: They provide leadership in
    governance and law-making.
  4. Organised Structure: Parties have a clear structure
    with leaders, active members, and followers.
  5. Representation: Political parties represent
    diverse societal interests in governance.

Q.6 A group of people who come together to
contest elections and hold power in the government is called a __________.

Ans. Political Party.

Q.7 Match List I (organisations and
struggles) with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given
below the lists:

| List I
| List II | | 1. Congress Party | A. National Democratic Alliance | | 2.
Bharatiya Janata Party | B. State party | | 3. Communist Party of India
(Marxist) | C. United Progressive Alliance | | 4. Telugu Desam Party | D. Left
Front |

Ans. (a) 1-C, 2-A, 3-D, 4-B

Q.8 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

Ans. (A) Kanshi Ram

Q.9 What is the guiding philosophy of the
Bharatiya Janata Party?
(A) Bahujan Samaj
(B) Revolutionary democracy
(C) Integral humanism
(D) Modernity

Ans. (C) Integral humanism

Q.10 Consider the following statements on
parties.
A. Political parties do not enjoy much trust among the people.
B. Parties are often rocked by scandals involving top party leaders.
C. Parties are not necessary to run governments.

Which of the
statements given above are correct?
(a) A, B, and C
(b) A and B
(c) B and C
(d) A and C

Ans. (b) A and B

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