Question Answers: NCERT Class 10 Social Science - Democratic Politics

State how caste inequalities are still continuing in India.

Give arguments to support or oppose the following assertions:
      *  Industrialised countries can afford democracy but the poor need dictatorship to become rich.
      *  Democracy can’t reduce inequality of incomes between different citizens.
      *  Government in poor countries should spend less on poverty reduction, health, education and spend more on industries and infrastructure.
      *  In democracy all citizens have one vote, which means that there is absence of any domination and conflict.

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. The 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 the Panchayati Raj will strengthen the foundations of our democracy."

Point out one feature in the practice of federalism in India that is similar to and one feature that is different from that of Belgium.

State two reasons to say that caste alone cannot determine election results in India.

When does a social difference become a social division?

State different forms of communal politics with one example each.

Identify the challenges to democracy in the following descriptions. Also suggest policy/institutional mechanism to deepen democracy in the given situations:
    *  Following a High Court directive a temple in Orissa that had separate entry doors for dalits and non-dalits allowed entry for all from the same door.
    *  A large number of farmers are committing suicide in different states of India.
    *  Following allegation of killing of three civilians in Gandwara in a fake encounter by Jammu and Kashmir police, an enquiry has been ordered.

What are the various challenges faced by political parties?

How do social divisions affect politics? Give two examples.

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.
Mattai – Power sharing is suited only for big countries that have regional divisions.
Ousep – Every society needs some form of power sharing even if they are small or do not have social divisions.

Identify and shade three federal countries (other than India) on a blank outline political map of the world.

State the various functions political parties perform in a democracy.

State any two differences between the local government before and after the Constitutional amendment in 1992.

State how caste inequalities are still continuing in India.

What is a political party?

Match List I (organisations and struggles) with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: List I List II
1. Organisations that seek to promote   A. Movement the interests of a particular section or group
2. Organisations that seek to promote   B. Political parties common interest
3. Struggles launched for the resolution C. Sectional interest of a social problem with or without groups an organisational structure
4. Organisations that mobilise people    D. Public interest with a view to win political power groups

(a) C D B A

(b) C D A B

(c) D C B A

(d) B C D A

What is the status of women’s representation in India’s legislative bodies?

In India seats are reserved for women in
(a) Lok Sabha
(b) State legislative assemblies
(c) Cabinets
(d) Panchayati Raj bodies

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 in 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.