NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Civics

Chapter 1 Power-Sharing
Power Sharing Class 10 Important Questions and
Answers
Q. No. 1) Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

i. Belgium is a small country in Europe and shares borders with France, _________,
Germany, and Luxembourg.

a. Italy

b. Sweden

c. the Netherlands

d. Spain

Ans. Option (c).

ii. In Sri Lanka, an Act was passed in _______ to recognize _______ as the only
official language, disregarding _________.

a. 1948, Tamil, Sinhala

b. 1956, Sinhala, Tamil

c. 1948, Sinhala, Tamil

d. 1956, Tamil, Sinhala

Ans. Option (b).

iii. Population of Sri Lankan Tamils is concentrated in ____________ region of Sri

Lanka.
a. North and South

b. North and East

c. East and West

d. South and East

Ans. Option (b).

iv. Choose the correct statement(s) about Belgium:

1. The French-speaking community in Belgium was rich and powerful.

2. The Dutch language is dominantly spoken in Belgium.
3. Brussels is the capital city of Belgium.
4. In Belgium, the leaders realized that the unity of the country is
possible by respecting the feelings and interests of different
countries.

a. 1,2,3

b. 1,3

c. 2,3,4

d. All are correct

Ans. Option (a).

v. Match the following percentage of the population from column A with the
social groups in column B:

Column A (% of the population) Column B (Social Groups)

a. 59 % i. French speakers
 b. 74 % ii. Dutch speakers

c. 40 % iii. Tamil speakers

d. 18 % iv. Sinhala speakers

A. a-ii, b-iii, c-iv, d-i

B. a-ii, b-iv, c-i, d-iii

C. a-i, b-iv, c-ii, d-iii

D. a-ii, b-iii, c-i, d-iv

Ans. Option (B).

vi. Choose the correct statements:

1. The official religion of Sri Lanka is Buddhism

2. Sri Lankan Tamil refers to Tamil natives of the country.
3. The leaders of Belgium amended their constitution 3 times.

a. 1,2

b. 1,3

c. Only 3

d. 1,2,3
Ans. Option (a).

vii. Match the following keywords from column A with their explanation in column
B:

Column A (Keywords) Column B (Explanation)

a. Ethnic i. A belief that let the majority

community rule a country.

b. Civil war ii. Calculation of gains and losses.

c. Prudential iii. Conflict between opposing groups.

d. Majoritarian iv. Division based on shared culture.

A. a-iv, b-iii, c-i, d-ii

B. a-i, b-ii, c-iv, d-iii

C. a-iii, b-iv, c-ii, d-i

D. a-iv, b-iii, c-ii, d-i

Ans. Option (D).

viii. Which language is mainly spoken in the Flemish region of Belgium?

a. Dutch language
b. German language

c. Tamil language

d. None of the above

Ans. Option (a)

ix. What is the language spoken by the people residing in the Wallonia region of
Belgium?

a. French language

b. Dutch language

c. German language
d. None of the above

Ans. Option (a).

x. Even though Ministers and government officials exercise power, they are
responsible to the parliament or state assemblies. Such an arrangement is called

a. System of checks and balances

b. Power sharing with different political parties

c. Power sharing with pressure groups

d. Vertical division of power

Ans. Option (a).

xi. Which of the following statements accurately distinguishes between

Majoritarianism and Power sharing?

a. Majoritarianism emphasizes the dominance of the majority community, while

Power sharing emphasizes the sharing of power among different groups.

b. Majoritarianism emphasizes the need for consensus building, while Power sharing
emphasizes the exclusion of minority groups.

c. Majoritarianism emphasizes the importance of accommodating minority interests,

while Power sharing emphasizes the need for majority rule.

d. Majoritarianism emphasizes the need for peaceful resolution of conflicts, while Power
sharing emphasizes the use of force to impose the majority's will.

Ans. Option (a)

xii. Although the French were in a majority in Brussels, they gave equal representation to
the Dutch in government because:

a. The Dutch were relatively rich and powerful in Belgium

b. The Dutch were the natives of Belgium

c. The French were given equal representation in the Central government

d. None of the above

Ans. Option (c).

xiii. Learning from Belgium’s experience, which of the following steps could have MOST
LIKELY avoided a civil war in Sri Lanka that ended in 2009?

a. Making reservations in jobs for the Tamil-speaking minority community

b. Dividing the entire country on the basis of linguistic lines to appease the citizens

c. Devising laws to accommodate the ethnic differences of citizens to ensure peace

d. Conducting a thorough census to strictly segregate the Indian Tamils from the Sri
Lankan Tamils

Ans. Option (c)

xiv. Match List I (forms of power sharing) with List II (forms of government) and select
the correct answer using the codes given below in the lists:

List I List II

1. Power is shared among different A. Community government.

organs of government.

2. Power is shared among governments at B. Separation of powers.

different levels.

3. Power shared by different social C. Coalition government.

groups.
 4. Power shared by two or more political D. Federal government.
parties.

1 2 3 4

(a) D A B C

(b) B C D A

(c) B D A C

(d) C D A B

Ans. Option (c).

Q. No. 2) Fill in the blank: __________ was chosen by the European Union as its
headquarters.

Ans. Brussels.

Q. No. 3) How many people speak French and Dutch in the capital city of
Brussels?

Ans. 80% French and 20% Dutch speaking.

Q. No. 4) Study the map thoroughly and mention the languages that are dominantly
spoken in Belgium.
Ans. The languages that are dominantly spoken in Belgium are Dutch and French.

Q. No. 5) What is the ethnic composition of Sri Lanka?

Ans. The Sinhala speakers are 74% and Tamil speakers are 18% and among Tamils, there are
two subgroups – Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian Tamils.

Q. No. 6) “Sharing of powers makes a country more powerful and united.” Do you
agree with this statement and why?

Or,

“Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy.” Justify this statement with three
suitable points.

Or,

How far do you agree with the statement that power sharing is keeping with the
“Spirit” of democracy?

Ans. Power sharing keeps up with the ‘Spirit’ of Democracy as:

 ● Power sharing ensures that all people have a stake in government.
● Power sharing ensures maximum participation. It upholds the concept of people’s
rule. It always brings better outcomes in democracy. It ensures that people are
consulted on how they are to be governed.
● Power sharing accommodates diverse groups. It helps to reduce the possibility of
conflict between social groups.

Q. No. 7) Explain any three consequences of the majoritarian policies adopted by

the Sri Lankan government.

Ans. Consequences of majoritarian policies adopted by the Sri Lankan Government:

● Tamils felt the government was not sensitive to the Tamil language and culture.
● Tamils felt discriminated against in jobs and education.
● Tamils felt the government was practicing religious discrimination.
● Relations between Tamils and Sinhalese became strained.
● Several political organizations were formed demanding an independent Tamil
Eelam (state) in the northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka.
● The distrust between the two communities turned into a civil war, in which,
thousands of people from both communities were killed.
● It caused a terrible setback to the social, cultural, and economic life of the
country.

Q. No. 8) Differentiate between the horizontal and vertical division of powers.

Or,

Describe horizontal and vertical power sharing in modern democracies.

Ans.

Horizontal Division of Power Vertical Division of Power

1. Horizontal Division of Power is a power- 1. In the vertical division of power, power is

sharing arrangement in which power is shared among governments at different
shared among different organs of levels like union, state, and local levels of
government such as the executive, government i.e., it involves higher and lower
legislative, and judiciary. levels of government.
 2. In the horizontal division of power, different 2. In the vertical division of power, the
organs of government exercise different constitution clearly lays down the power of
powers. different levels of government.

3. Horizontal distribution specifies the 3. There is no concept of checks and

concept of checks and balances in order to balances because powers are clearly given
check the exercise of unlimited powers of the by the constitution from the higher level to the
organs. lower level.

Q. No. 9) Which three demands of the Sri Lankan Tamil accepted and met, could
have settled the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka for good? Explain.

Ans. Demands of the Tamils:

● Recognition of Tamil as an official language.

● Equal opportunities for Tamils in government jobs and educational institutions.
● Provincial autonomy for Tamil-dominated provinces.

Q. No. 10) What is power sharing? Give reasons why power sharing is desirable.

Or,

What is power sharing? Why power sharing is desirable? Explain by giving

prudential and moral reasons.

Ans. When the power does not rest with any one organ of the state rather it is shared among
different levels/organs of the government it is called power sharing.

Power sharing is desirable in democracy because:

i. Prudential reasons:

● It helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups.

● Reducing conflict between social groups ensures the stability of political order.
● It promotes the unity of the nation.

ii. Moral reasons:

 ● Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy. A democratic rule involves sharing
power with those affected by its exercise and who have to live with its effect.
● People have a right to be consulted on how they are to be governed.
● Power sharing helps in producing a legitimate government where citizens through
participation acquire a stake in the system.

Q. No. 11) Read the passage, observe the image given below, and answer the
questions that follow.

The cartoon above refers to the problems of running Germany’s grand coalition
government that includes the country’s two major parties, namely the Christian
Democratic Union and the Social Democratic Party. The two parties are rivals to each
other. They had to form a coalition government because neither of them got a clear
majority of seats on their own in the 2005 elections. They take divergent positions on
several policy matters but jointly run the government.

a. Which disadvantage of coalition governments is the image highlighting?

b. Why did the rival parties choose to make a coalition despite being rivals?

c. How does a democratic system, at times, cause such a challenge?

Ans. a. A coalition government may not agree on policy decisions that can affect a country’s
progress.

b. The government at the center enforces policy decisions that affect the entire country including
the people who support each party, thus the rivals preferred to make a coalition.
c. Democracy enables people to vote for their chosen representatives. In the absence of a clear
majority, political parties may form a coalition.

Q. No. 12) Bring out any two sharp contrasts between Belgium and Sri Lankan
democracies.

Ans. Sri Lanka and Belgium are both democratic countries yet have very diverse social setups.
Both countries have adopted very different approaches when it comes to power-sharing.

● Belgium adopted the policy of accommodation of social and ethnic divisions. On

the other hand, Sri Lanka also adopted a democratic system but followed
majoritarian policies.
● Under the Belgium model of democracy, power was shared among two ethnic
groups. Sri Lanka favored the interests of the majority Sinhala community.
● In Belgium, both groups had an equal share in the working of government but in
Sri Lanka, the minority community was isolated.
● To maintain political stability and unity, equal representation was provided to both
groups. Apart from that, the community government of both ethnic groups also
existed at the local level. Sri Lanka, however, had no such arrangement.
● Belgium's constitution was amended four times before arriving at a final draft to
prevent civil strife. In Sri Lanka, majoritarianism led to civil war for twenty long
years.

Q. No. 13) What are the advantages of horizontal power-sharing? Explain with an
example.

Ans. The advantages of horizontal power-sharing are:

● The power is shared among different organs of government equally.

● Horizontal power-sharing places all the organs of the government i.e.,
legislature, executive, and judiciary at the same level.
● Under this kind of power-sharing no organ can exercise unlimited
powers.
● That is why this system is also known as the system of checks and
balances.
● Example: in India, though the ministers and government officials exercise
power, they are responsible to the parliament or state legislatures.
Similarly, although the judges are appointed by the executive they can
check the functioning of the executive or laws made by the legislatures.

Q. No. 14) Describe any three majoritarian measures adopted by the Sri Lankan
Government to establish Sinhala supremacy.
Or,

Describe any three provisions of the Act which was passed in Sri Lanka in 1956 to
establish Sinhala supremacy.

Or,

Why did Sri Lankan Tamils feel alienated?

Ans. Sri Lankan Tamils felt alienated because:

● The government adopted majoritarian measures to establish Sinhala

supremacy. In 1956, an Act was passed to recognize Sinhala as the only
official language thus disregarding Tamil.
● The government followed preferential politics that favored Sinhala
applicants for university positions and government jobs.
● A new Constitution stipulated that the state shall protect and foster
Buddhism.

Q. No. 15) Describe the power-sharing arrangement made by Belgium.

Or,

Explain any three elements of the Belgium model of power sharing.

Or,

What changes were done to the constitution of Belgium?

Ans. Some of the elements of the Belgium model are:

● The number of Dutch and French-speaking ministers shall be equal in the

central government.
● Some special laws required the support of the majority of members from
each linguistic group.
● The state governments are not subordinate to the central government.
● Brussels has a separate government in which both communities have
equal representation.
● Apart from the central and state government, there is a third kind of
government called ‘community government’. Community government is
 elected by people belonging to one language community – Dutch,
French, and German-speaking.

Q. No. 16) Explain the major forms of power sharing in modern democracies.

Ans. The major forms of power sharing in modern democracies are:

● Power sharing among the different organs of government. (Horizontal

power sharing).
● Power sharing among governments at different levels.
● Power sharing among different social groups.
● Power sharing among political parties, pressure groups, and movements.
● In a democracy, we find interest groups such as businessmen, farmers,
and industrial workers.

Q. No. 17) Here are some examples of power sharing. Which of the four types of
power-sharing do these represent? Who is sharing power with whom?

1. The Bombay High Court ordered the Maharashtra state government

to immediately take action and improve living conditions for the
2,000-odd children at seven children’s homes in Mumbai.
2. The government of Ontario state in Canada has agreed to a land
claim settlement with the aboriginal community. The Minister
responsible for Native Affairs announced that the government will
work with aboriginal people in a spirit of mutual respect and
cooperation.
3. Russia’s two influential political parties, the Union of Right Forces
and the Liberal Yabloko Movement agreed to unite their
organizations into a strong right-wing coalition. They propose to
have a common list of candidates in the next parliamentary
elections.
4. The finance ministers of various states in Nigeria got together and
demanded that the federal government declare its sources of
income. They also wanted to know the formula by which the revenue
is distributed to various state governments.

Ans.
 1. Here is horizontal power sharing between different organs of the
government placed at the same level – the Judiciary and the State
legislative assembly in this case.
2. Here power is shared among different social and ethnic groups.
3. This power-sharing arrangement is between 2 political parties. If the
alliance is elected, they form a coalition government and share power.
4. This is the vertical form of power sharing. Power is shared between the
union government and the state.

Exercises Page No. 10

1. What are the different forms of power-sharing in modern democracies? Give an
example of each of these.
Ans. Modern democracies employ various forms of power-sharing, including:
● Horizontal Distribution of Power: Power is allocated among different branches of
government, such as the legislature, executive, and judiciary. This system ensures a
balance of power and prevents any one organ from becoming too dominant. Example:
India.
● Federal Division of Power: Power is distributed across different levels of government,
encompassing a central government for the entire nation and regional or provincial
governments. This structure allows for local governance and regional autonomy.
Example: India (Union Government and State Governments).
● Community Government: Power can also be shared among different social groups,
such as religious and linguistic communities. This form of power-sharing ensures
representation and protection for diverse groups within a country. Example: Belgium.
● Power-sharing between Political Parties, Pressure Groups, and Movements: By
promoting competition and collaboration among various political entities, this method
ensures that power is not concentrated in one group. Over time, power is shared among
different political parties that represent a range of ideologies and social interests.
2. State one prudential reason and one moral reason for power-sharing with an example
from the Indian context.
Ans.
● Prudential Reason: Power-sharing can lead to better governance outcomes by
preventing the concentration of power and reducing conflicts. For example, in India, the
reservation system provides benefits to various sections of society, such as Scheduled
Castes and Scheduled Tribes, to ensure their representation and reduce social tensions.
● Moral Reason: Power-sharing is valuable because it promotes fairness and inclusivity.
In India, the Constitution grants citizens fundamental rights, ensuring that everyone is
treated equally and has a voice in the government. This fosters a more just and
equitable society.
3. After reading this chapter, three students drew different conclusions. Which of these
do you agree with and why? Give your reasons in about 50 words. Thomman – Power
sharing is necessary only in societies which have religious, linguistic or ethnic divisions.
Mathayi – Power sharing is suitable only for big countries that have regional divisions.
Ouseph – Every society needs some form of power-sharing, even if it is small or does not
have social divisions.
Ans. Ouseph's conclusion is correct: every state should implement some form of power-
sharing. Power-sharing creates an optimal balance between different segments of society,
reducing the likelihood of conflicts and injustices. Thus, power-sharing is a fundamental value of
democracy. Moreover, it is an effective means to ensure political stability.
4. The Mayor of Merchtem, a town near Brussels in Belgium, has defended a ban on
speaking French in the town’s schools. He said that the ban would help all non-Dutch
speakers integrate into this Flemish town. Do you think that this measure is in keeping
with the spirit of Belgium’s power-sharing arrangements? Give your reasons in about 50
words.
Ans. The decision by the Mayor of Merchtem to ban French-speaking in the town’s schools
near Brussels is unjust. This action contradicts Belgium’s power-sharing arrangement, which
aims to balance the interests of different communities. In Belgium, maintaining power-sharing
between the Dutch and French-speaking populations is crucial to prevent civil unrest. Banning
French-speaking will likely increase tensions and promote conflict. To foster peace among
different communities, the Mayor should implement a bilingual education system in the town’s
schools

.5. Read the following passage and pick out any one of the prudential reasons for power
sharing offered in this. “We need to give more power to the panchayats to realise the
dream of Mahatma Gandhi and the hopes of the makers of our Constitution. Panchayati
Raj establishes true democracy. It restores power to the only place where power belongs
in a democracy – in the hands of the people. Giving power to Panchayats is also a way to
reduce corruption and increase administrative efficiency. When people participate in the
planning and implementation of developmental schemes, they would naturally exercise
greater control over these schemes. This would eliminate the corrupt middlemen. Thus,
Panchayati Raj will strengthen the foundations of our democracy.”
Ans. The prudential reason mentioned in the passage is: "Empowering Panchayats helps to
reduce corruption and enhance administrative efficiency."
6. Different arguments are usually put forth in favour of and against power-sharing.
Identify those which are in favour of power-sharing and select the answer using the
codes given below. Power-sharing:
1. reduces conflict among different communities
2. decreases the possibility of arbitrariness
3. delays the decision-making process
4. accommodates diversities
5. increases instability and divisiveness
6. promotes people’s participation in government
7. undermines the unity of a country
 (a) A B D F

(b) A C E F

(c) A B D G

(d) B C D G

Ans. “a”
7. Consider the following statements about power-sharing arrangements in Belgium and
Sri Lanka.
1. In Belgium, the Dutch-speaking majority people tried to impose their domination
on the minority French-speaking community.
2. In Sri Lanka, the policies of the government sought to ensure the dominance of
the Sinhala-speaking majority.
3. 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.
4. The transformation of Belgium from a unitary government to a federal one
prevented a possible division of the country on linguistic lines.
Which of the statements given above is correct?
(a) A, B, C and D
(b) A, B and D
(c) C and D
(d) B, C and D
Ans. (d) B, C and D
8. Match List I (forms of power-sharing) with List II (forms of government) and select the
correct answer using the codes given below in the lists.

List I List II

1. Power shared among A. Community government

different organs of
government

2. Power shared among B. Separation of powers

governments at different
levels

3. Power shared by different C. Coalition government

social groups

4. Power shared by two or D. Federal government

 more political parties

Ans.

List I List II

1. Power shared among Separation of powers

different organs of
government

2. Power shared among Federal government

governments at different
levels

3. Power shared by different Community government

social groups

4. Power shared by two or Coalition government

more political parties

9. Consider the following two statements on power-sharing and select the answer using
the codes given below.
A). Power-sharing is good for democracy.
B). It helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups.
Which of these statements are true and false?

(a) A is true, but B is false

(b) Both A and B are true

(c) Both A and B are false

(d) A is false, but B is true

Ans. (b) Both A and B are true

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Social

Science Civics Chapter 1 FAQs
Q1. What is power-sharing?
Ans. Power-sharing refers to the distribution of powers and responsibilities among different
organs of government or between different levels of government.
Q2. Why is power-sharing important in a democracy?
Ans. Power-sharing is essential in democracies to prevent the concentration of power in one
person or group, ensure inclusivity, accommodate diverse interests, and maintain stability.
Q3. What are the different forms of power-sharing discussed in Chapter 1?
Ans. Chapter 1 discusses horizontal distribution of power among different branches of
government, federal division of power between central and regional governments, and power-
sharing among social groups and political parties.
Q4. How does power-sharing contribute to democracy?
Ans. Power-sharing promotes democratic values such as participation, equality, accountability,
and justice by distributing power and involving diverse groups in decision-making processes.
Q5. What are the examples of power-sharing from Belgium and Sri Lanka discussed in
Chapter 1?
Ans. Belgium practices power-sharing between linguistic communities (Dutch-speaking and
French-speaking), while Sri Lanka addresses power-sharing challenges between majority
Sinhalese and minority Tamil communities