NCERT Solutions for class 10th Social Science Chapter 23 Political Parties

Exercises

Short Answer Type Questions

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

Answer : Political parties perform various functions in a democracy
(a) They contest elections.
(b) Parties put forward their policies and programmes for voters to choose from them.
(c) Political parties play an important role in the law making process.
(d) Political parties form and run governments.
(e) Political parties which are unable to secure majority and form the government, play the role of opposition to the party in power .
(f) They shape public opinion.
(g) Parties provide people access to government machinery and welfare schemes implemented by governments.

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

Answer : Various challenges faced by political parties are
(a) The parties are lacking internal democracy, which keeps many prospective leaders deprived of their rights.
(b) There have been dynastic successions in many political parties. This often deprives the parties of appropriate leadership.
(c) The parties something indulge in the use of money and muscle power for winning elections. This hampers development and is against the spirit of democracy.
(d) There are not many ideological differences between the various parties. So, there is a lack of meaningful choice before the voters.

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

Answer : Suggestions to reform political parties
(a) It should be made mandatory for political parties to regulate their internal affairs. It should be made compulsory for political parties to maintain a register of its members and have periodic elections of their office bearers.
(b) Parties should be asked to nominate women candidates for at least one-third of the seats in elections.
(c) Ordinary citizens, media, and movements can play an important role by pressurising parties to bring in reforms in their functioning.

Question 4. What is a political party?

Answer : A political party is a group of people of the same ideology who comes together to contest elections and to secure majority in order to form the government.

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

Answer : Characteristics of a Political Party
(a) Political parties are groups of well organised like minded people with the same views and opinions.
(b) The members of the political party agree to policies and programmes to be implemented for the benefit of society with a view to promote collective good.
(c) Every political party has one common aim and that is to attain power in one way or another. For this they contest elections and try to win them. If they single handedly are unable to win a majority, they make an alliance with other parties to form a coalition government.
(d) Political parties try to persuade people that their policies are better than those of other parties.
(e) Political parties are a part of society and thus involve partnership.
(f) A political party runs with the help of its leaders, active members and suppourters.
(g) A party is generally known by what it stands for, the policies it suppourts and the interests it upholds.

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

Answer : Political Party.

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

List IList II
1. Congress PartyA. National Demratic Alliance
2. Bhartiya Janata PartyB. State Party
3. Communist Party of India (Marxist)C. United Progressive Alliance
4. Telugu Desam PartyD. Left Front

Codes
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
(a) C A B D (b) C D A B
(c) C A D B (d) D C A B

Answer : (c)

Question 8. Who among the following is the founder of the Bahujan Samaj Party?
(a) Kanshi Ram (b) Sahu Maharaj
(c) BR Ambedker (d) Jotiba Phule

Answer : (a)

Question 9. What is the guiding philosophy of the Bhartiya Janata Party?
(a) Bahujan Samaj (b) Revolutionary democracy
(c) Integral humanism (d) Modernity

Answer : (d)

Question 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) All of these

Answer : (b)

Question 11. Read the following passage and answer the questions given below.

Muhammad Yunus is a famous economist of Bangladesh. He received several international honours for his efforts to promote economic and social development for the benefit of the poor. He and the Grameen Bank have jointly, received the Nobel Peace Prize for the year 2006. In February 2007, he decided to launch a political party and contest in the Parliamentary elections. His objective was to foster proper leadership, good governance and build a new Bangladesh. He felt that only a political party different from the traditional ones would bring about new political culture. His party would be democratic from the grass roots level.
The launching of the new party, called Nagarik Shakti (Citizens Power), has caused a stir among the Bangladeshis. While many welcomed his decision, some did not like it. “Now I think Bangladesh will have a chance to choose between good and bad and eventually have a good government,” said Shahedul Islam, a government official. “That government, we hope, would not only keep itself away from corruption but also make fighting corruption and black money a top priority. ”
But leaders of traditional political parties who dominated the country‘s politics for decades were apprehensive. “There was no debate (over him) winning the Nobel, but politics is different-very challenging and often controversial,” said a senior leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. Some others were highly critical. They asked why he was rushing into politics. “Is he being planted in politics by mentors from outside the country,” asked one political observer.


(i) Do you think Yunus made a right decision to float a new political party?
(ii) Do you agree with the statements and fears expressed by various people?
(iii) How do you want this new party organised to make it different from other parties?
(iv) If you were the one to begin this political party how would you defend it?

Answer :
(i) Yes, he made a right decision to float a new political party.
(ii) I am not agree with the fear expressed by various people about his political party, because winning Noble Prize is a different thing and working as an activist of political party is a different thing.
(iii) It is usual that people have always different views of their own. Corruption free people will appreciate such steps while the bureaucrats and those who earn profit through corrupt practices will certainly criticise it.
(iv) If I was one of them to begin this political party, I would try to develop direct interaction with the people living in the countryside and in towns. Regular meetings of the party members, seminars, workshops, etc would have been adopted to win the confidence of the people.

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