SANSKAR SCHOOL

CLASS: X
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
POLITICAL SCIENCE

CHAPTER 1- POWER SHARING

1. Which of the following is an example of horizontal sharing of power?

(a) Power sharing between different states.
(b) Power sharing between different organs of the government.
(c) Power sharing between different levels of the government.
(d) Power sharing between different political parties.

2. Who elects the community government in Belgium?

(a) People belonging to one language community only. (b) By the leader of Belgium.
(c) The citizens of the whole country. (d) The community leaders of Belgium.

3. The Community Government signifies:

(a) The powers of government regarding community development.
(b) The powers of the government regarding law making for the community.
(c) The powers of the government regarding cultural, educational and language related issues.
(d) The government enjoys privileges to safeguard the interest of a particular community.

4. The word ‘ethnic’ signifies:

(a) different religions. (b) social division on shared culture.
(c) a violent conflict between opposite group (d) a careful calculation of gains and losses.

5. Power sharing is:

(a) the very spirit of democracy (b) separation of powers at different levels.
(c) system of checks and balances. (d) a type of balancing powers.

6. Choose the correct option:

Power sharing is desirable because it helps:
(a) To increase pressure on government. (b) To reduce possibilities of conflicts.
(c) To generate awareness among people. (d) To increase percentage of voters.

7. System of ‘checks and balances’ mean:

(a) Horizontal distribution of powers (b) Separation of powers.
(c) Put a check on the exercise of unlimited powers of the organs of government by maintaining a
balance of power among various institutions.
(d) Federal division of powers

8. Which of the following features are common to Indian and Belgian form of power-sharing
arrangements?
A. Power is shared among governments at different levels.
B. Power is shared among different organs of government.
C. Power is shared among different social groups.
D. Power is shared among different parties and takes the form of competition.
(a) A, B, C, D (b) B, C and D (c) A and C (d) A, C and D

9. In dealing with power sharing, which one of the following statements is NOT correct about
democracy?
(a) People are the source of all political power.
(b) In a democracy, people rule themselves j through institutions of self-governance.
(c) In a democracy, due respect is given to diverse groups and views that exist in a society.
(d) In a democracy, if the power to decide is dispersed, it is not possible to take quick decisions and
enforce them.

10. A belief that the majority community should be able to rule a country in whichever way it wants,
by disregarding the wishes and needs of the minority is:
(a) Power Sharing (b) Central Government
(c) Majoritarianism (d) Community Government

11. A system of ‘checks and balances’ are another name for which one of the following
power-sharing arrangements:
(a) Power sharing among different social groups.
(b) Vertical division of power or power shared among different levels of government.
(c) Horizontal division of power or power shared among different organs of the government.
(d) Power sharing in the form of political parties, pressure groups and governments.

12. Which one of the following statements about power-sharing arrangements is correct?
(a) Power sharing is necessary only in societies which have religious, linguistic or ethnic divisions.
(b) Power sharing is suitable only for big countries that have regional divisions.
(c) Every society needs some form of power sharing even if it is small or does not have social
divisions.
(d) Power-sharing is not necessary at all.

13. Consider the following statements about the ethnic composition of Sri Lanka:
A. Major social groups are the Sinhala- speaking (74%) and Tamil-speaking (18%)?
B. Among the Tamils, there are two sub-groups, Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian Tamils.
C. There are about 7% Christians, who are both Tamil and Sinhala.
D. Most of the Sinhala-speaking are Hindus or Muslims and most of the Tamil-speaking are
Buddhists.
Which of the above statements are correct?
(a) A, B, C (b) A, B, D (c) B, C, D (d) A, B, C, D

14. Prudential reasons of power sharing stress on the facts that:

A. It ensures the stability of political order.
B. It reduces the possibility of conflict between social groups.
C. It gives a fair share to minority.
D. It is the very spirit of democracy.
Which of the above statements are correct?
(a) A, B (b) A, C and D (c) All are correct (d) A, B & C

15. How many people speak French and Dutch in the capital city of Brussels?
(a) 60 percent French 40 percent Dutch (b) 50% Dutch 50% French
(c) 80% French 20% Dutch (d) 80% Dutch 20% French

16. Which of the following statements is not true?

(a) In Belgium, leaders realised that unity of the country is possible only by sharing power
(b) In Sri Lanka, the majority community wants to force domination over others
(c) In Sri Lanka, the demand for more autonomy to provinces populated by Tamils has been granted
(d) Division of Belgium along linguistic lines was averted due to power sharing

17. Prudential reasons of power sharing stress on the facts that:

A. It ensures the stability of political order.
B. It reduces the possibility of conflict between social groups.
C. It gives a fair share to minority.
D. It is the very spirit of democracy.
Which of the above statements are correct?
(a) A, B (b) A, C and D (c) All are correct (d) A, B and C

18. Which among the following is known as a system of checks and balances?
(a) The Supreme Court Judges can check the powers of the High Court Judges.
(b) The President of India appoints the Prime Minister and further the Prime Minister checks the
powers of the President.
(c) The judges are appointed by the Executive and further judges can check the functioning of
Executive or laws made by the Legislature.
(d) All of the above

19. Which of the following was not one of the initial demands of Sri Lankan Tamils?
(a) Equal opportunities in securing jobs and education
(b) Regional autonomy
(c) Creation of an independent Tamil Eelam (state)
(d) Recognition of Tamil as an official language

20. Which form of power sharing is most commonly referred to as federalism?

(a) Vertical division of power (b) Horizontal division of power
(c) Sharing of power among political parties (d) Division of power among various
communities

21. Which of the following features are common to Indian and Belgian form of power sharing
arrangements?
A. Power is shared among governments at different levels.
B. Power is shared among different organs of government.
C. Power is shared among different social groups.
D. Power is shared among different parties and takes the form of competition.
(a) A, B, C, D (b) B, C and D (c) A and C (d) A, C and D

22. Suppose your teacher has given you the assignment regarding power arrangements in Belgium
and Sri Lanka. According to you which of these following statements are appropriate for helping you
in preparing your assignment.
I. In Belgium, the Dutch-speaking majority people tried to impose their domination on the minority
French-speaking community.
II. In Sri Lanka, the policies of the government sought to ensure the dominance of the Sinhala
speaking majority.
III. The Tamils in Sri Lanka demanded a federal arrangement of power sharing to protect their
culture, language and equality of opportunity in education and jobs.
IV. The transformation of Belgium from unitary government to a federal one prevented a possible
division of the country on linguistic lines.
Codes :
(a) I, II, III and IV (b) III and IV (c) I, II and IV (d) II, III and IV

23. Which one of the following statements about coalition Government is true?
(a) Power is shared among the different organs of the government
(b) Power is shared among governments at different levels
(c) Power is shared by different social groups
(d) Power is shared by two or more political parties

24. Consider the following statements:

1. In a federation the powers of the federal and provincial governments are clearly demarcated.
2. India is a federation because the powers of the Union and State Governments are specified in the
Constitution and they have exclusive jurisdiction on their respective subjects.
3. Sri Lanka is a federation because the country is divided into provinces.
4. India is no longer a federation because some powers of the states have been devolved to the local
government bodies.
(a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 1, 3 and 4 (c) 1 and 2 only (d) 2 and 3 only

25. Separation of powers refers to:

a. Power shared among social groups b. Power shared among different organs of government
c. Power shared among different levels of government d. Power shared among different parties

26. Consider the following statements about power sharing arrangements in Belgium and Sri Lanka.
A. In Belgium, the Dutch-speaking majority people tried to impose their domination on the minority
French-speaking community.
B. In Sri Lanka, the policies of the government sought to ensure the dominance of the Sinhala-
speaking majority.
C. The Tamils in Sri Lanka demanded a federal arrangement of power sharing to protect their
culture, language and equality of opportunity in education and jobs.
D. The transformation of Belgium from unitary government to a federal one prevented a possible
division of the country on linguistic lines.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
a. A, B and D b. A, B, C and D c. B, C and D d. C and D

27. Which of the following is not the benefit of power sharing?

a. It upholds the spirit of democracy. b. Political parties get their expected share.
c. It ensures political stability in the long-run. d. It reduces the possibility of conflicts between
social groups.

28. An Act of recognizing Sinhala as the official language was signed in:
a. 1942 b. 1956 c. 1954 d. 1948

29. Who elects the community government in Belgium?

(a) People belonging to one language community only. (b) By the leader of Belgium.
(c) The citizens of the whole country. (d) The community leaders of Belgium.

30. The Community Government signifies:

(a) The powers of government regarding community development.
(b) The powers of the government regarding law making for the community.
(c) The powers of the government regarding cultural, educational and language related issues.
(d) The government enjoys privileges to safeguard the interest of a particular community.

31. The word ‘ethnic’ signifies:

(a) different religions. (b) social division on shared culture.
(c) a violent conflict between opposite groups. (d) a careful calculation of gains and losses.

32. System of ‘checks and balances’ mean:

(a) Horizontal distribution of powers. (b) Separation of powers.
(c) Put a check on the exercise of unlimited powers of the organs of government by maintaining a
balance of power among various institutions.
(d) Federal division of powers

33. Which of the following explains the aim of the popular struggle of Nepal in 2006?
A. To demand for the punishment of the king who overthrew the democratic government
B. To re-establish popular control over the government from the king
C. To protest for the ban of the Maoist insurgents
D. To regain the trust of the people in monarchy

34. Which one of the following elements is NOT included in the Belgium model?
(a) Dutch and French speaking ministers shall be equal in the government.
(b) Many powers of the central government have been given to state governments.
(c) Brussels has a separate government in which both the communities have equal representation.
(d) There is a community government which has special powers of administration.

35. Consider the following statements on Power Sharing and choose the correct option.
I. It deepens democracy.
II. It helps to reduce conflicts among social groups.
III. It is a way to ensure political stability.
IV. It brings socio-economic struggles.
(a) I, II and III (b) II, III and IV (c) I, III and IV (d) I, II and IV

36. Consider the following statements on Power Sharing and choose the correct option:
(I) Majoritarianism is the real spirit of democracy.
(II) It creates balance and harmony in different groups.
(III) It reduces the possibility of conflict among social groups.
(IV) Power sharing is the essence of democracy.
(a) I, II and III (b) II, III and IV (c) I, III and IV (d) I, II and IV

37. Identify 'Horizontal power-sharing' arrangements among the following in modern democracies.
(a) Different organs of government
(b) Governments at different levels
(c) Different social groups
(d) Different parties, pressure groups and movements

Assertion Reason Questions:

1. Assertion(A): Community government in Belgium allows to share power among religious and
linguistic groups.
Reason(R): In India there are legal and constitutional arrangements were by socially weaker sections
and women are represented in the legislatures and administration.

2. Assertion(A): Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country in 1949.

Reason(R): The leaders of the Sinhala community sought to secure dominance over
government by virtue of their majority.

3. Assertion: Tyranny of majority is highly desirable.

Reason: It helps in making the political order more stable.

4. Assertion: Belgium and Sri Lanka both faced ethical tension among different communities.
Reason: Both the countries resolved the conflict by power sharing arrangement which gave equal
representation to all the communities.

5. Assertion: Power sharing is essential in a democracy to ensure that all groups have a voice in
governance.
Reason: In a democracy, centralizing power in one institution helps in faster decision-making.

6. Assertion: Federal systems are designed to accommodate diverse groups within a country.
Reason: Federal systems work by distributing power between central and regional governments.

7. Assertion: Horizontal power-sharing is practiced through the separation of powers among different
branches of government.
Reason: This type of power-sharing helps in preventing any single branch from becoming too
powerful.

8. Assertion: Power-sharing among different social groups can lead to more effective governance.
Reason: Such power-sharing ensures that minority groups have equal representation and protection of
their rights.

9. Assertion: A unitary system of government is suitable for large, diverse countries.

Reason: Unitary systems centralize power in the central government, which is beneficial for
managing diverse groups.

10. Assertion: Power-sharing mechanisms in democracies are designed to manage conflicts between
different social groups.
Reason: Effective power-sharing ensures that all groups, including minorities, have a stake in
governance and decision-making.

11. Assertion (A): The Belgian leaders recognized the existence of regional differences and cultural
diversities.
Reason (R): Between 1970 and 1993, they amended their constitution four times so as to work out an
arrangement that would enable everyone to live together within the same country.

12. Assertion (A): Sinhala was recognised as only official language of Sri Lanka.
Reason (R): The government of Sri Lanka wanted to establish dominance of Tamil community.
13. Assertion (A): Belgium and Sri Lanka both faced ethical tension among different communities.
Reason (R): Both the countries resolved the conflict by a power-sharing arrangement that gave equal
representation to all the communities.

13. Assertion (A): In India, the nature of democratic politics is very important for the federation.
Reason (R): The federal experiment has succeeded in India because of the constitutional provisions.

14. Assertion (A): French-speaking people accepted equal representation in Brussels.

Reason (R): Brussels has a separate government in which both the communities have equal
representation.

15. Assertion (A): Power-sharing is a good way to ensure the stability of political order.
Reason (R): Imposing the will of the majority community over others may look like an attractive
option.

16. Assertion (A): Belgium and Spain have holding together federation.
Reason (R): A big country divides power between constituent states and the national government.

17. Assertion (A): Governments at different levels should agree to some rules of power-sharing.
Reason (R): Mutual trust and agreement to live together is required for a federal system.

18. Assertion (A): Sinhala was recognized as the only official language of Sri Lanka.
Reason (R): The government of Sri Lanka wanted to establish the supremacy of the Sinhala
community.

19. Assertion (A): Power cannot be shared among social groups.

Reason (R): Belgium's Community government is an example of accommodating social diversities.

20. Assertion (A): Sinhala was recognized as the only official language of Sri Lanka.
Reason (R): The government of Sri Lanka wanted to establish the supremacy of the Sinhala
community.

21. Assertion (A): About 24% of the total seats in Lok Sabha are reserved for SC-ST categories.
Reason (R): To uphold democracy, power is shared with the people who get affected by the decisions
taken.
Read the following headline in a newspaper.
A government in a conflict-ridden country offered a power-sharing agreement to a militant group as
part of a negotiation to cease hostilities. Which type of reasoning for power-sharing is demonstrated
here?

CHAPTER 2- FEDERALISM

1. What status has been given to Hindi by the Constitution of India?

(A)Regional language (B) Official language
(C) National language (D) Community language

2. Who is the Head of Urban Local Government?

(A)Sarpanch (B) Ward Commissioner (C) Mukhiya D) Mayor

3. In which year, a major step was taken towards Decentralisation?

(A) In 1994 (B) In 1989 (C) In 1992 (D) In 1997

4. What is the primary purpose of having a federal system in a country?

A) To ensure that all decisions are made by the central government
B) To allow regional governments to make decisions on local matters
C) To reduce the number of laws and regulations
D) To concentrate all powers in the hands of a few individuals

5. In a federal system, what role does the constitution play?

A) It centralizes power within the central government
B) It allows regional governments to make any law they wish
C) It defines the powers and responsibilities of different levels of government
D) It eliminates the need for regional governments
6. Which of the following is NOT a feature of federalism?
A) A single central government that controls all aspects of governance
B) A division of powers between different levels of government
C) A written constitution that outlines the division of powers
D) An arrangement where regional governments have specified powers

7. What does the term "division of powers" refer to in a federal system?

A) The separation of political parties
B) The allocation of responsibilities and powers between central and regional governments
C) The centralization of all political authority
D) The merging of different regional governments

8. Which of the following is a feature of a unitary system of government, as opposed to a federal

system?
A) Power is divided between central and regional governments
B) Regional governments have autonomous powers
C) The central government holds the majority of power
D) Regional governments can make their own laws independent of the central government

9. What does the term "federalism" refer to?

A) A system where all political power is held by a single central authority
B) A system where power is divided between central and regional governments
C) A system where regional governments have no power
D) A system where only local governments have power

10. How does federalism support democratic governance?

A) By concentrating all power in the central government
B) By allowing local governments to function independently
C) By providing a framework where different levels of government share power and responsibilities
D) By eliminating the need for a central government

11. Consider the following statements regarding the sources of revenue in a federal system.
(i) States are provided with unlimited financial powers.
(ii) States are dependent for revenue on the Central Government.
(iii) The Central Government has no financial autonomy.
(iv) The sources of revenue for each level of government are clearly specified in the Constitution of
India to ensure its financial autonomy.
Codes
(a) Only (iv) (b) Only (i) (c) Both (i) and (ii) (d) Both (ii) and (iii)

12. Identify the kind of legislative power distribution list by the Constitution of India:
• It includes the subject of national interest.
• Provides uniformity throughout the country.
• The Union govt alone has the power to make laws related to the subjects of this list.
• Banking, Defence and Communication are some of the subjects under this list.
Select the appropriate option from the following.
(a) State List (b) Union List (c) Residuary List (d) All of these

13. Statement I: India is a federation.

Statement II: Power resides with the central authority.
(a) Statement I is correct and statement II is incorrect.
(b) Statement I is incorrect and statement II is correct.
(c) Both statements are incorrect
(d) Both statements are correct
14. What is true regarding sources of revenue in a federal system?
(a) States have no financial powers or independent sources of revenue.
(b) States are dependent on revenue or funds on the central government.
(c) Sources of revenue for each level of government are clearly specified to ensure its financial
autonomy.
(d) States have no financial autonomy.

15. Identify the correct statement(s) about unitary form of government.

Statement I: There is either only one level of government or the sub-units are subordinate to the
Central Government.
Statement II: The Central Government can pass an order to the Provincial Government.
Statement III: Laws made by the centre are equally enforced in rest of the states without territorial
distinction.
Statement IV: The powers of State Governments are guaranteed by the Constitution.
Codes:
(a) Statement I and II are right (b) Statement II and III are right
(c) Statement I, II and III are right (d) Only Statement IV is right

16. Which of the following is incorrect regarding a federal government?

(a) Federalism is a system of government in which the power is divided between a central authority
and various constituent units of the country.
(b) Federation has only one level of government.
(c) One is the government for the entire country that is usually responsible for a few subjects of
common national interest.
(d) The others are governments at the level of provinces or states that look after much of the day-to-
day administering of their state.

17. Which one of the following options describe ‘Coalition’?

(a) Power usually changes between two main parties.
(b) Several parties competing to win elections and form the government.
(c) An alliance of several parties to form the government.
(d) All of the above.

18. Consider the following statements regarding language policy of Indian Federation.
1. Hindi was identified as the official language.
2. Besides Hindi, there are 21 other languages recognised as scheduled languages.
3. English can be used along with Hindi for official purpose.
Choose the right option from the following:
(a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) Only 1 (c) 1 and 2 (d) 1 and 3

19. How many languages are included in the Eight Schedule of the Indian Constitution?
(a) 15 (b) 22 (c) 25 (d) 21

20. Who is the head of urban local government?

(a) Sarpanch (b) Ward commissioner (c) Mukhiya (d) Mayor

21. Whose laws prevail if there is conflict between the state government and central government on
the subject of concurrent list?
a. The laws made by the state government b. The laws made by both State and Union Government
c. The laws made by the Union Government d. The laws would be cancelled.

22. The distinguishing feature of a federal government is

a. National Government gives some powers to the provincial government.
b. Power is distributed among the legislature, executive and judiciary.
c. Elected officials exercise supreme power in the government.
d. Governmental power is divided between different levels of government

23. Select the two bases on which new states of India have been created
a. Religion and geography b. Language and regional
c. Culture and religion d. Geography and language

24. The distinguishing feature of a federal government is

a. National Government gives some powers to the provincial government.
b. Power is distributed among the legislature, executive and judiciary.
c. Elected officials exercise supreme power in the government.
d. Governmental power is divided between different levels of government

25. In what way changes can be made in the federal constitution:

a. Change can be unilaterally b. Changes require the consent of both the levels of government
c. Changes can be through judiciary d. Changes require only consent of the people

26. ___________ ensured that the spirit of federalism, respect for diversity, and desire for living
together became shared ideals in our country.
a. Judiciary b. Democratic politics c. Constitutional provisions d. Federal
nature

27. In what way changes can be made in the federal constitution:

a. Change can be unilaterally b. Changes require the consent of both the levels of government
c. Changes can be through judiciary d. Changes require only consent of the people

28. USA, Spain, Switzerland, Australia

When Santosh was asked to pick the odd one out of the above four countries, he picked Spain, which
is the correct answer. What could be the reason for this?
A. It is a "holding together" federation.
B. It is the only country that has a federal government.
C. It is the only country that does not account for regional diversity.
D. All the states in Spain have equal power and can rule above the central government.

29. Identify the correct feature of Unitary form of government from the following options.
(a) There are two or more levels of government.
(b) Different tiers of government govern the same citizens.
(c) Each tier of government has its own jurisdiction.
(d) The sub-units are subordinate to the central government.

30. Which one of the following subjects is included in the Union list?
(a) Communication (b) Trade (c) Commerce (d) Irrigation

31. Match the column - A with column - B and choose the correct option:
32. Which one of the following subjects is included in the State list?
(a) Banking (b) Business (c) Currency (d) Communication

33. Which one of the following subjects is included in the Concurrent List?
(a) Trade (b) Commerce (c) Agriculture (d) Marriage

34. This is a cartoon titled, "States plead more powers". Answer the following questions with respect
to this cartoon.

When Sunil looked at this cartoon, he said that this could not happen in the USA. Why did he say
this?
A. There are more individual states in the USA than in India.
B. The central government holds absolute authority over the entire country.
C. The individual states in the USA can make their own laws, unlike in India.
D. The central government in the USA does not hold more power than the individual states.

Which of the following features of federalism is being violated in the cartoon?

A. The jurisdiction of the states
B. The union granting equal powers to all states
C. Power of the states to hold the union accountable for its decisions
D. A unified authority with administrative powers vested with the states

The food being served to the states can be interpreted as which of the following?
P) monetary support Q) decision-making power R) defining state borders

A. Only P and R B. Only Q and R C. Only P and Q D. All - P, Q and R

Suppose in the cartoon, a third party was to step in and directly intervene to resolve the conflict, what
body of the government would that be?
A. The media B. The judiciary C. The executive D. The legislature

Some states are pictured as people begging for food. Who is providing the food?
A. The Supreme Court B. The Central government
C. International organizations D. The local governments of the state

The Indian Constitution protects the marginalised in the country in several different ways. How is
this practiced through federalism?
A. States with religious minorities have different criminal laws.
B. Some states with indigenous populations have special powers.
C. States with a majority tribal populations have guaranteed urban living spaces for tribals.
D. States with a majority of people belonging to backward castes come directly under the central
government.

Which of the following situations about federalism in India could be TRUE?

A. Agriculture is moved from the State to the Union list by the Parliament.
B. All states and union territories are granted equal jurisdiction over all matters.
C. Small states with a high population of minorities were merged to form larger states.
D. A dispute between a state government and the centre is settled by the Supreme Court.

"It is the formation of linguistic states that has allowed India to escape what might have been a worse
fate still. If the sentiments of the native speakers of Telugu, Marathi, et. al. had been disregarded,
what we might have here was: 'One language: 14 or 15 nations'."
Explain in one point what Ramachandra Guha's quote implies with reference to the type of federalism
that exists in India.

In post-independent India, which language was proposed to replace English? Write two points to
illustrate how retaining English as an official language in India, helped upkeep the spirit of
federalism.

Assertion Reason Questions:

1. Assertion (A): Federalism is a system of government in which the power is divided between
a central authority and various constituent units of the country.
Reason (R): Usually, a federation has one level of government.

2. Assertion (A): The subjects which are not included in Union List, State List and Concurrent List
are considered as Residuary Subjects.
Reason (R): The subjects included those that came after Constitution was made and thus, could not
be classified.

3. Assertion (A): Hindi is identified as the only official language of India.

Reason (R): It helped in creating supremacy of Hindi speaking people over others.

4. Assertion (A): When power is taken away from Central and State government and given to Local
Government, it is called Decentralization.
Reason (R): The basic idea behind Decentralization is that there are a large number of problems and
issues which are best settled at the local level.

5. Assertion (A): In 1947, the boundaries of several old States of India were changed in order to
create new states.
Reason (R): These include states like Nagaland, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand.

6. Assertion: Federalism is a system of government where power is divided between a central

authority and regional units.
Reason: In federal systems, the central government usually has absolute power over the regional
units.

7. Assertion: In a federal system, both levels of government (central and regional) have the power to
legislate on different matters.
Reason: Federal systems are designed to ensure that regional governments can make laws specific to
their needs and conditions.

8. Assertion: The Indian Constitution provides for a clear separation of powers between the central
and state governments.
Reason: This separation is designed to ensure that states can function independently in their own
areas of jurisdiction.
9. Assertion: Federalism helps accommodate the diversity of a country by allowing different regions
to have their own distinct policies.
Reason: Federal systems are designed to centralize power to maintain uniformity across the country.

10. Assertion: In a federal system, the division of powers is usually outlined in a constitution.
Reason: The constitution ensures that power-sharing agreements between different levels of
government are legally binding and clearly defined.

11. Assertion (A): Federations that are formed by ‘holding together’ do not give equal power to its
constituent units.
Reason (R): Some states are granted special powers.

12. Assertion: Belgium and Spain have ‘holding together’ federation.

Reason: A big country divides power between constituent states and national government.

13. Assertion: Hindi is identified as the only official language of India.

Reason: It helped in creating supremacy of Hindi speaking people over others.

14. Assertion: It is very simple to make the changes in the basic structure of the constitution.
Reason: Both the houses have power to amend the constitution independently.

15. Assertion: India is a federation.

Reason: Power resides with the central authority.

16. Assertion: Coalition government is formed during dearth of coal in the country.
Reason: It helps in overcoming coal crisis.

17. Assertion: The subjects which are not included in Union List, State List and Concurrent List are
considered as residuary subjects.
Reason: The subjects included that came after constitution was made and thus could not be classified.

18. Assertion: India has a federal system.

Reason: Under a unitary system, either there is only one level of government or the sub-units are
subordinate to central government.

19. Assertion: Zilla Parishad Chairperson is the political head of the zilla parishad.
Reason: Mayor is the head of municipalities.

20. Assertion: A major step towards decentralization was taken in 1992 by amending the constitution.
Reason: Constitution was amended to make the third tier of democracy more powerful and effective.

CHAPTER 3- GENDER, RELIGION AND CASTE

1. When we speak of gender divisions, we usually refer to:

(A) biological difference between men and women.
(B) unequal roles assigned by the society to men and women.
(C) unequal child sex ratio.
(D) absence of voting rights for women in democracies.

2. In India seats are reserved for women in:

(A) Lok Sabha (B) State Legislative Assemblies
(C) Cabinets (D) Panchayati Raj Bodies

3. What is meant by the term ‘Feminist’?

(a) The belief that men and women are unequal.
(b) A person who believes in equal rights and opportunities for women and men.
(c) The man who looks like the woman.
(d) The qualities which are considered typical of women.

4. Who is a feminist?
(A) A person who demands equal rights for all human beings.
(B) A person who demands more rights for men.
(C) A person who demands equal rights for women of high caste.
(D) A person who demands equal rights for women.

5. What is patriarchy?
(A) A system where mother is the head of the family.
(B) A system where there is no head of the family.
(C) A system where father is the head of the family.
(D) A system where grandparents have control over family matters.

6. Find the incorrect option:

(A) Communal politics is based on the idea that caste is the principal basis of social community.
(B) Communalism involves thinking along the following lines.
(C) The followers of a particular religion must belong to one community.
(D) Their fundamental interests are the same.

7. Which of the following statements about the role of religion in Indian politics is true?
A) Religion is completely excluded from the political sphere in India.
B) Indian political parties often make religious appeals to garner votes.
C) The Constitution allows the promotion of a specific religion in public policies.
D) There are no legal provisions related to religion in Indian politics.

8. What does the term 'untouchability' refer to in the context of caste discrimination in India?
A) Social practices involving strict separation and exclusion of certain castes
B) Legal segregation of castes in education and employment
C) The denial of basic rights to individuals based on caste
D) The promotion of equal opportunities for all castes

9. What is the main focus of the Equal Remuneration Act?

A) To ensure equal wages for equal work for men and women
B) To provide special allowances for women workers
C) To prohibit child labour
D) To promote women's entrepreneurship

10. What does the term 'communalism' refer to in the context of Indian politics?
A) Promotion of all religions equally
B) The practice of using religious identity for political gain
C) Elimination of caste-based discrimination
D) Support for secularism

11. Which of the following statements about gender inequality in India is true?
A) Gender inequality is only an issue in rural areas
B) Gender inequality is reflected in disparities in education, employment, and health
C) Gender inequality has been completely eliminated in India
D) Gender inequality affects only women from high-caste backgrounds

12. Which one of the following is not a cause of communalism?

(a) Religion is taken as the basis of the nation
(b) When one religion is discriminated against other
(c) State has no official religion
(d) Demands of one religious group are formed in opposition to another

13. ‘Equal Wages Act’ signifies;

(a) Law that deals with family related matters.
(b) Law provides that equal wages should be paid for equal job for both men and women.
(c) An Act which signifies that all work inside the home is done by the women of the family.
(d) A radical law against the discriminatory attitude and sexual division of labour.

14. Which of the following BEST explains the reason for lower representation of women in
parliaments across the world?
A. Women's role in politics has always been minimal due to division of labour.
B. Women tend to not vote in elections because they have a lower literacy rate.
C. Preference for sons has decreased the sex ratio due to which there are lesser women.
D. Women's issues can be solved only through social change and not through legislation.

15. Which of the following examples is an expression of a relationship between religion and politics?
A. Child marriage is banned in India
B. Maternity leave is mandatory for government employees.
C. Sex ratio in India has declined due to sex-selective abortions.
D. Women are paid less than men, even when both do exactly the same work.

16. Which of the following is one of the ways to combat communal prejudices in everyday life?
A. Encouraging children to have friends within their own communities.
B. Ensuring that all the people in your apartment building have similar religious beliefs.
C. Voting for a candidate in election on the basis of her capability irrespective of religion.
D. Making sure that festivals of each community are celebrated by people belonging to that
community.

17. Which of the following is an example of communal politics?

A. Candidates not disclosing the religion they follow.
B. Candidates bribing voters of all religions with money for their votes.
C. Candidates bringing a religious leader to campaign in their support.
D. Candidates visiting religious sites of all religions during campaigning.

18. "The focus on caste in politics can sometimes give an impression that elections are all about caste
and nothing else. That is far from true." Elaborate this statement in five points.

19. Caste is an important source of economic inequality because it regulates access to resources of
various kinds. The relationship between caste and economic status has certainly changed a lot. Today,
it is possible to find very rich and very poor people in every caste, whether ‘low’ or ‘high’. This was
not true even twenty or thirty years ago – it was very rare indeed to find rich people among the
‘lowest’ castes. However, caste continues to be very strongly linked to economic status in many
important ways. The effects of centuries of accumulated advantages and disadvantages continue to be
felt. Moreover, new kinds of inequalities have also developed.

19.1. Most people belonging to which of the following communities are MOST LIKELY to be living
under the poverty line?
A. Hindu B. Muslim C. Scheduled Tribes D. Other Backward Classes

19.2. The passage states that caste continues to be very strongly linked to economic status even today.
Explain the statement above.
A. In terms of proportions, lower castes are still financially worse off than upper castes.
B. Lower castes today are economically better off than upper castes due to the policies of the
government.
C. Differences in economic status today are more to do with choices of individual castes rather than
caste hierarchy.
D. Caste hierarchy has changed in the last thirty years such that upper castes have become lower
castes and vice versa.

19.3. Which of the following would MOST LIKELY be true thirty years ago?
A. Lower caste people had no access to own land.
B. Caste did not play a role in access to education.
C. Caste did not determine the economic status of people.
D. Upper caste people living in extreme poverty was lesser.

19.4. Which of the following factors has MOST LIKELY led to the shift in the economic status of
lower castes in the last thirty years?
A. Large scale urbanisation
B. Lesser inter-caste marriages
C. Government owning all the resources like land
D. Generosity of people belonging to the upper caste

19.5. In which of the following ways can the economic status of all people belonging to the lower
castes MOST LIKELY be improved?
A. Improving literacy and access to education of people of lower castes
B. Government deducting more tax from people of upper castes
C. Restricting the salaries of people of upper castes
D. Making land of lower castes government owned

HOTS…..

20. How does occupational mobility help transform society with respect to caste?

21. Politics too influences the caste system and caste identities by bringing them into the political
arena. Explain this statement.

"Women still lag much behind men in India despite some improvements since independence."
Analyse the statement.

"Gender division is not based on biology but on social expectations and stereotypes." Support the
statement.

Secularism is not an ideology of some political parties, but it is one of the foundations of a country.
Examine the statement.

The focus on caste in politics can sometimes give an impression that elections are all about caste and
nothing else. Do you agree? Explain.

"Sometimes elections are all about caste in India." How can this situation be avoided?

Assertion Reason Questions:

Assertion (A): There are reports of various kinds of harassment, exploitation and violence against
women.
Reason (R): Urban areas have become particularly unsafe for women.

Assertion (A): Gender division is a form of hierarchical social division.

Reason (R): It is seen everywhere, but is rarely recognized.

Assertion (A): In most families women do all work inside the home such as cooking, cleaning and
looking after children.
Reason (R): Boys and girls are brought up to believe that the main responsibility of women is
housework and bringing up children.

Assertion (A): Women in different parts of the world organised and agitated for equal rights.
Reason (R): There were agitations in different countries for the extension of voting rights to
women.

Assertion (A): In India the proportion of women in Legislature has been very high.
Reason (R): The percentage of elected women members in Lok Sabha has crossed 10 percent of its
total strength for the first time in 2009.

Assertion (A): Religious diversity is fairly widespread in world today.

Reason (R): Many countries including India have in their population, followers of different religions.

Assertion (A): Human rights group in our country have argued that most of the victims of communal
riots in our country are people from religious minorities.
Reason (R): They have demanded that government should take special steps to protect religious
majorities.

Assertion (A): Communalism was and continues to be one of the major challenges to democracy in
our country.
Reason (R): The makers of our Constitution were not aware of this challenge.

Assertion: The caste system has been completely eradicated in contemporary India.
Reasoning: The Indian government has enacted laws and affirmative action policies to eliminate
caste-based discrimination.

Assertion: Religion plays no role in Indian politics due to the secular nature of the Indian
Constitution.
Reasoning: The Constitution mandates that the state should treat all religions equally and not favor
any particular religion.

CHAPTER 4- POLITICAL PARTIES

1. What is meant by ‘Political Party’?

(A) A group of politically sound people.
(B) A group of people come together to contest elections to hold power in the government.
(C) A group of people who want to be in power.
(D)A group of people who want to amend the Constitution.

2. Choose the correct one.

(A) 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.
(B) That is what the parties do.
(C) A party reduces a vast multitude of opinions into a few basic positions which it supports.
(D) A government is expected to formulate its policies on the line taken by the opposition party.

3. Which of the following is NOT a function of a political party?

(a) Forming policies and programs (b) Running the judiciary
(c) Contesting elections (d) Organizing and running the government
4. What is a key characteristic of a political party's ideology?
(a) It determines the party's leadership structure.
(b) It outlines the party's approach to governance and policy-making.
(c) It defines the party's electoral strategy.
(d) It dictates the party's funding sources.

5. Which of the following is a function of opposition parties?

(a) To support the ruling party unconditionally
(b) To provide an alternative to the ruling party’s policies
(c) To directly form the government
(d) To control all state and central government institutions

6. What does the term "coalition government" refer to?

(a) A government formed by a single party with a majority
(b) A government formed by multiple parties coming together to form a majority
(c) A temporary government appointed by the President
(d) A government formed by an independent candidate

7. What is the primary role of opposition parties in a democracy?

(a) To support the ruling party without criticism
(b) To monitor and critique the policies of the ruling party
(c) To form alliances with foreign countries
(d) To run all government departments

8. Which of the following statements is true about political parties?

(a) They are not necessary in a democratic setup.
(b) They help in the formation of government and policy-making.
(c) They only work at the local level.
(d) They are primarily involved in judicial appointments.

9. The role of political parties in shaping public opinion is significant because they:
(a) Control all media channels
(b) Use their platforms to address and mobilize public concerns
(c) Dictate what the public should think
(d) Control the judiciary

10. Which of the following statements about regional parties is true?

(a) They operate only at the national level.
(b) They have a presence in several states.
(c) They focus on issues specific to a particular region or state.
(d) They are not recognized by the Election Commission.

11. Give the meaning of ‘Alliance’.

(a) Two parties together form the government.
(b) Leftist and Rightist together form the government.
(c) When state and national parties together form the government.
(d) When several parties in a multi-party system join for the purpose of contesting elections and
winning power.

12. Select the statement related to the advantages of multi-party system

(a) Multi-party system provides limited choice to voters.
(b) There is a chance of conflict.
(c) Provides choice to the voters.
(d) In multi-party system regional parties get the representation.
13. Political parties are allotted symbols by.
(a) The government of India (b) The constitution of India
(c) The party leaders (d) The Election Commission

14. Recognised political parties stand for:

(a) Parties recognised by the Election Commission with all the privileges and facilities.
(b) Parties that are present in only one of the federal units.
(c) Parties that are present in several and all units of the federation.
(d) Communal parties based on regional diversities.

15. Consider a country which has diverse social groups. It wants to adopt a new political system
which helps give equality to all groups. Identify the feature it should adopt.
A. Enable different groups to represent themselves by forming political parties
B. Empower groups to take extreme positions to ensure justice for themselves
C. Help different groups get assimilated into one single group to reduce diversity
D. Allowing political power to remain in the hands of only one group to ensure stability

16. There are two statements given below, Statement (I) and Statement (II). Read the statements and
choose the correct option.
(I) : A one-party system is a good democratic option.
(II) : Political parties in a democracy put forth different programmes and policies for voters to choose
from.

A. (I) and (II) are true B. (I) and (II) are false
C. (I) is the cause of (II) D. (I) is false but (II) is true

17. Subhash lobbies with various government offices to work specifically for the interests of the
Scheduled Tribes. Which of the following parties is he MOST LIKELY to be associated with?
A. All-India Trinamool Congress B. Indian National Congress
C. Communist Party of India D. Bahujan Samaj Party

HOTS……

Explain, how the rise of political parties are directly linked to the emergence of representative
democracies.

"Political parties have become omnipresent in democracies all over the world." Explain the statement
with examples.

"No party system is ideal for all countries and all situations." Justify the statement with arguments.

"There are various reforms taken to strengthen parties in India so that they perform their function
well." Explain the statement with examples.

"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.

"All over the world, people express their dissatisfaction with the failure of political parties to perform
their functions well." Analyse the statement with arguments.

In a country, though people are allowed to form parties, only one party controls and forms the
government. What type of party-system can we say operates in this country? Why?
Which recognised national party sees securing power for the dalits, adivasis, OBCs and religious
minorities as an important part of its identity?

How have state parties contributed to the strengthening of federalism?

A party has won the following percentage of seats in the 4 states where it has contested in the state
legislative assembly election.

The party has not won any Lok Sabha seats.

(a) What type of political party will it be classified as? Why?
(b) Can it be classified as a national party? Justify your answer.

‘In Goa, 7 powerful families are contesting 35% of the assembly seats’ states a headline in a recent
newspaper article. Which challenge of political parties does it MOST LIKELY illustrate?

What is one ill effect of the anti-defection law?

Assertion Reason Questions:

Assertion (A): Political parties are easily one of the most visible institutions in a democracy.
Reason (R): For most ordinary citizens, democracy is equal to political parties.

Assertion (A): India has Multi Party System.

Reason (R): The Multi Party System often appears very messy and leads to political instability.

Assertion (A): Most people tend to be very critical of political parties.

Reason (R): They tend to blame parties for all that is wrong without democracy and our political life.

Assertion: Political parties are crucial for the functioning of a democracy.

Reasoning: Political parties help in formulating policies and provide a platform for political
participation.

Assertion: In India, regional parties have less influence compared to national parties.
Reasoning: National parties have a broader base and can influence policies at the national level more
effectively than regional parties.

Assertion: Political parties often face criticism for promoting dynastic politics.
Reasoning: Dynastic politics can lead to a concentration of power within a few families, affecting
democratic principles.

Assertion: The presence of multiple political parties ensures better representation of diverse interests
in a democracy.
Reasoning: Different parties often represent various social, economic, and regional interests,
contributing to a more inclusive governance.

CHAPTER 5- OUTCOMES OF DEMOCRACY

1. The record of democracies is not impressive because

(a) It often frustrates the needs of the people
(b) It often ignores demands of a majority of its population
(c) Both a and b
(d) None of the above

2. Choose the correct statement.

(a) Democracy not to lag behind dictatorship.
(b) Democracy is not guarantee of economic development.
(c) Economic growth is better in non-Democratic government.
(d) USA is a democratic government but remarkable economic development.

3. Choose the wrong statement about democracy.

(a) Promotes equality among citizens (b) Enhances the dignity of the individual
(c) Provide a method to resolve conflicts (d) Does not have room to correct mistakes

4. Least expectation from democracy is that

(a) It cannot accommodate various social life
(b) It should produce a harmonious social life
(c) It develops procedure to conduct competition
(d) It reduces the possibility of violent tensions

5. Choose the wrong statement about democracy.

(a) Promotes equality among citizens (b) Enhances the dignity of the individual
(c) Provide a method to resolve conflicts (d) Does not have room to correct mistakes

6. If a government provides its citizens a right and means to examine the process of decision, it is
(a) An accountable government (b) A responsible government
(c) A transparent government (d) A stable government

7. What do democracies ensure regarding decision making?

(a) Process of transparency (b) Decisions taken by the head of the country
(c) Decision by the Council of Ministers (d) Restricted popular participation in decision making

8. Which of the following is not true about democracy?

(a) It always worries about majorities and public opinion.
(b) It improves the quality of decision making.
(c) Decision making is faster and quicker.
(d) It allows a room to correct mistakes.
9. Why is democracy considered as the better form of government than dictatorship?
(a) Promotes equality and enhances dignity of the individual.
(b) Never allows room to correct mistakes.
(c) Majority community rule
(d) Provides methods to resolve conflicts

10. Here are the lyrics of a part of the song "Imagine" by John Lennon.
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

Which outcome of democracy does the song hint at?

A. Reduction of inequality and poverty B. Respecting social diversity
C. Accountability of leaders D. Economic development

11. Take a look at the following map. It captures to which extent political leaders are elected under
comprehensive voting rights in free and fair elections, and freedoms of association and expression are
guaranteed. It ranges from 0 to 1 (most democratic).
Pay special attention to the countries of North America, Europe, Africa and India.

Which outcome of democracy is definitely COMMON among the countries which are the 'most
democratic' according to the map?
A. citizens' dignity and freedom B. accommodation of social diversity
C. reduction of inequality and poverty D. economic growth and development

12. "A government must ensure that the majority group does not make all the decisions and becomes
a superior social group."
Which of the following questions BEST aligns with the suggestion given above?
A. "How can a government increase the political participation of its citizens?"
B. "What can be done to ensure the economic development of the country?"
C. "What can the leaders do to ensure that citizens' diversity is respected?"
D. "How can you make sure free and fair elections are conducted?"

HOTS…..

As part of a case study Roshini read about the long-drawn deliberations that take place in the
Parliament before passing any policy. Upon asking her teacher about the delay, he said that delays are
sometimes good for democracy. Why did he say this?

"Democracy's ability to generate its own support is itself an outcome that cannot be ignored."
Analyse the statement with three examples.

"Democracies are not appearing to be very successful in reducing economic inequalities." Analyse
the statement.
"Democracy stands much superior to any other forms of governments in promoting dignity and
freedom of the individual." Support the statement with arguments.

Mention two ways in which a democratic government can ensure transparency of its procedures to its
people.

State three aspects of the functioning of a government in which democracy has not fared well in the
past.

What aspect of democracy is being violated in this cartoon?

Suresh was conducting a short research study on different democracies of the world. What are the
three aspects that he would be measuring to check if a government is effective or not?

A situation that can possibly expose the illegitimacy of bad democratic governments is elections.
Do you agree with this statement? Justify your answer.

What might be a reason that people in some countries have chosen the second option - sometimes a
dictatorship is better?

Why is it necessary to study the economic outcomes of democracy?

Political equality does not translate to economic equality. Explain with an example.

Democracy remains democracy only as long as every citizen has a chance of being in majority at
some point of time. Explain this statement.

Democracy ensures respect and freedom of all citizens of the country. Name two provisions of the
Constitution for this purpose.

(a) How has democracy made it easier for women to demand equal treatment? (3)
(b) Explain how democracy has similarly helped other social groups in India. (2)