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Political Parties – Class 10 Social Science notes, important questions and MCQs

NCERT Class 10 Social Science, chapter 16. Notes, key terms, important questions with answers and MCQs.

Chapter overview

A political party is a group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in government. Parties are necessary in modern democracies. India has a multi-party system with national and state parties, and parties face challenges that call for reforms.

Why we need political parties

A party has three components: leaders, active members and followers.
Functions: contesting elections, putting forward policies and programmes, making laws, forming and running governments, playing the role of opposition, shaping public opinion and giving access to welfare schemes.
Without parties every candidate would be independent, no one could promise major policy changes, and the government's responsibility would be unclear.

Party systems and parties in India

One-party system: only one party is allowed to control power (China's Communist Party); two-party system: power usually changes between two main parties (USA, UK).
Multi-party system: several parties compete and may form coalitions or alliances (India).
Every party must register with the Election Commission; a party that gets at least 6 per cent of votes in a state assembly election and wins at least two seats is recognised as a state party.
A party that gets at least 6 per cent of votes in Lok Sabha or assembly elections in four states and wins at least four Lok Sabha seats is recognised as a national party.

Challenges and reforms

Challenges: lack of internal democracy, dynastic succession, growing role of money and muscle power, and lack of meaningful choice for voters.
Reforms: the anti-defection law, affidavits by candidates on property and criminal cases, and orders by the Election Commission for organisational elections and income tax returns.
Suggested reforms include regulating internal affairs of parties, reserving tickets for women and state funding of elections.

Key terms

Political party: a group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in government
Partisanship: an inclination to take sides and see issues from the point of view of one party
Defection: changing party allegiance from the party on which a person got elected to a different party
Affidavit: a signed document in which a person makes sworn statements

Important questions with answers

What is meant by a political party?2 marks

A political party is a group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in the government. They agree on some policies and programmes for society with a view to promoting the collective good.

Describe any three functions of political parties in a democracy.3 marks

Parties contest elections; in most democracies candidates are put up by parties. They put forward different policies and programmes, and voters choose from them. Parties play a decisive role in making laws, since most legislators are members of a party; they also form and run governments, and parties that lose elections play the role of opposition by criticising the government and mobilising opinion.

What are the major challenges faced by political parties in India? Suggest some reforms.5 marks

Lack of internal democracy: power is concentrated in a few top leaders, parties do not keep membership registers or hold regular organisational meetings and elections. Dynastic succession: top positions are often controlled by members of one family, which is unfair to other members. Growing role of money and muscle power: parties tend to nominate rich candidates or those who can raise money, and sometimes support criminals who can win elections. Lack of meaningful choice: the ideological differences among parties have reduced, so voters do not get real choices. Reforms already made include the anti-defection law, compulsory affidavits by candidates giving details of property and criminal cases, and Election Commission orders for organisational elections and filing income tax returns. Further suggestions include a law to regulate internal affairs of parties, giving a minimum share of tickets to women, and state funding of elections; citizens can also put pressure on parties through petitions, publicity and agitation, and by joining parties themselves.

Quick revision

Three components: leaders, active members, followers.
One-party (China), two-party (USA, UK), multi-party (India).
Challenges: internal democracy, dynasty, money and muscle, choice.
Anti-defection law and affidavits are reforms.

Exam tips

Learn the six functions of parties as a numbered list; examiners award marks point-wise.
Do not memorise the current number of national parties; it changes. Learn the recognition criteria.

Practice MCQs

Which country has a one-party system
1. USA
2. UK
3. China
4. India
Show answer
Answer: (c) China. Only the Communist Party is allowed to rule.
India has a
1. one-party system
2. multi-party system
3. two-party system
4. no-party system
Show answer
Answer: (b) multi-party system. Many parties compete for power.
Political parties register with the
1. Supreme Court
2. President
3. Parliament
4. Election Commission
Show answer
Answer: (d) Election Commission. The Commission recognises national and state parties.
The law that stops elected representatives from changing parties is the
1. Right to Information Act
2. anti-defection law
3. Representation of People Act on affidavits
4. Model Code of Conduct
Show answer
Answer: (b) anti-defection law. A legislator who defects can lose the seat.
When several parties come together to contest elections and win power, it is called
1. an opposition
2. a movement
3. a pressure group
4. an alliance or front
Show answer
Answer: (d) an alliance or front. Examples are the NDA and UPA.
Which is not a function of political parties
1. contesting elections
2. making laws
3. delivering court judgements
4. shaping public opinion
Show answer
Answer: (c) delivering court judgements. Judgements are given by courts.
To be recognised as a state party, a party needs at least
1. 4 per cent of votes and one seat
2. 10 per cent of votes
3. 6 per cent of votes in the state assembly election and two seats
4. 1 Lok Sabha seat
Show answer
Answer: (c) 6 per cent of votes in the state assembly election and two seats. This is the Election Commission's criterion.
Which is a challenge to political parties in India
1. too much internal democracy
2. state funding of elections
3. dynastic succession
4. compulsory affidavits
Show answer
Answer: (c) dynastic succession. Top positions often go to family members.

All chapters of Class 10 Social Science

Written by Kundali IQ from standard, well-established facts to help with revision. This is not an official NCERT publication; always read your textbook too.