NCERT Solutions For Class 10 Political Science: Political Parties

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

Answer-
Political parties perform a series of crucial functions in a democracy:
1.Parties $\underline{\text{contest elections}}$. In most democracies, elections are mainly fought among candidates put up by political parties.
2. Parties put forward $\underline{\text{different policies and programmes}}$ from which voters choose. A party reduces a vast multitude of opinions into a few basic positions.
3. Parties play a $\underline{\text{decisive role in making laws}}$ for a country, as members generally follow the direction of the party leadership in the legislature.
4. Parties $\underline{\text{form and run governments}}$. They recruit leaders, train them, and make them $\underline{\text{ministers}}$ to run the government.
5. Parties that lose elections play the role of $\underline{\text{opposition}}$. They voice different views, criticise the government for its failures or wrong policies, and $\underline{\text{mobilise opposition}}$.
6. Parties $\underline{\text{shape public opinion}}$. They raise and $\underline{\text{highlight issues}}$ and sometimes launch $\underline{\text{movements}}$ for the resolution of problems.
7. Parties provide people $\underline{\text{access to government machinery}}$ and $\underline{\text{welfare schemes}}$, making it easier for citizens to approach a local party leader than a government officer.

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

Answer-
Political parties around the world, including India, face four main challenges:
1.$\underline{\text{Lack of internal democracy}}$: Power tends to concentrate in $\underline{\text{one or few leaders at the top}}$. Parties often do not keep $\underline{\text{membership registers}}$, hold $\underline{\text{organisational meetings}}$, or conduct $\underline{\text{internal elections regularly}}$.
2. $\underline{\text{Dynastic succession}}$: Due to a lack of transparent procedures, leaders are in an unfair advantage to favour people close to them or $\underline{\text{family members}}$. This is bad for democracy as people without $\underline{\text{adequate experience or popular support}}$ come to occupy positions of power.
3. Growing role of $\underline{\text{money and muscle power}}$: Parties nominate candidates who have or can $\underline{\text{raise lots of money}}$. Rich people and companies who give funds tend to $\underline{\text{influence policies}}$, and parties sometimes support $\underline{\text{criminals}}$ who can win elections.
4. $\underline{\text{Lack of meaningful choice}}$: Often, parties do not offer significantly different policies to the voters, as ideological differences, especially on $\underline{\text{economic policies}}$, have declined.

Question 3: Suggest some reforms to strengthen parties so that they perform their functions well?

Answer-
To strengthen political parties, several legal efforts have been made, and suggestions put forth:

$\underline{\text{Legal Reforms Implemented:}}$
1.The Constitution was amended to prevent $\underline{\text{defection}}$ (changing party allegiance) by mandating that elected representatives lose their seat if they change parties.
2. The $\underline{\text{Supreme Court}}$ mandated that every candidate must file an $\underline{\text{affidavit}}$ detailing their $\underline{\text{property and criminal cases}}$ pending against them.
3. The $\underline{\text{Election Commission}}$ passed an order making it necessary for political parties to hold $\underline{\text{organisational elections}}$ and file their $\underline{\text{income tax returns}}$.

$\underline{\text{Suggestions for Further Reforms:}}$
1.A law should be made to $\underline{\text{regulate the internal affairs}}$ of political parties, making it compulsory to maintain a register of members, follow its own constitution, and hold $\underline{\text{open elections to the highest posts}}$.
2. It should be made $\underline{\text{mandatory}}$ for parties to give a $\underline{\text{minimum number of tickets}}$, about $\underline{\text{one-third}}$, to $\underline{\text{women candidates}}$.
3. There should be $\underline{\text{state funding of elections}}$, where the government provides parties money or support (in kind like petrol, paper, or cash) based on the votes secured.

Question 4: What is a political party?

Answer-
A political party is a $\underline{\text{group of people}}$ who $\underline{\text{come together}}$ to $\underline{\text{contest elections}}$ and $\underline{\text{hold power}}$ in the government. They $\underline{\text{agree on some policies and programmes}}$ for society with the aim of promoting the $\underline{\text{collective good}}$.

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

Answer-
A political party is characterized by being about a $\underline{\text{part of the society}}$, involving $\underline{\text{partisanship}}$, and upholding certain $\underline{\text{policies and interests}}$. A political party has three main components:
1.The $\underline{\text{leaders}}$.
2. The $\underline{\text{active members}}$.
3. The $\underline{\text{followers}}$.

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

Answer-
A group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in the government is called a $\underline{\text{political party}}$.

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

The correct code is $\underline{\text{(c) C A D B}}$.

Question 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

Answer-
A. $\underline{\text{Kanshi Ram}}$.

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

Answer-
C. $\underline{\text{Integral humanism}}$.

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) A and C

Answer-
(b) $\underline{\text{A and B}}$.
Statement A is correct because the proportion of those who say their trust in political parties is ‘$\underline{\text{not much’ or ‘not at all’ is more}}$ than those who have ‘some’ or ‘great’ trust. Statement B refers to common criticism, which aligns with concerns about the $\underline{\text{growing role of money}}$ and the misuse of power. Statement C is incorrect because political parties are a $\underline{\text{necessary condition for a democracy}}$ and form and run governments.