NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Social Chapter 1 - Power Sharing

A Quick Glance About The Topic 

• Usually, In a democratic country, power does not keep in a single organ of government.

• To design a democracy, It is important to share the power among the legislature, judiciary and executive. 

• Belgium is a small European country located on the border of the Netherlands, Germany and Luxembourg. Its land space and population are lesser than Haryana. 

• Before 1940’s and 1950s, 40% of the minority French speaking population were rich and getting good education while compared to  60% of the majority Ductch speaking population. 

• In the capital of Belgium, the French population is 80% and the dutch population is only 20% . So conflict arose.

• In Srilanka 74% of population are singala speaking people, 18% are tamil speaking population. The tamil speaking population even have two subdivisions as,Srilankan tamils and Indian tamils. Here, the Sinhala speaking population are buddhists, Tamil speaking populations are either Hindu or Muslims. 

• In 1956, an act was passed as Sinhala is the only official language by degrading tamil. So, the Tamil speaking population lost their opportunity to serve in government jobs. So conflict arose.

• The Tamil speaking community stood against the government to receive their opportunity. Later it turned into a civil war. Thousands and Thousands of people shed their lives. 

• But Belgium recognized the differentiation in culture and diversity. The government started giving equal rights to both the people in both central and state governments and created a community government. 

• These measures avoided civic strife among the two communities. 

• So, power sharing reduces conflicts among two communal groups.

• Majorities won’t suppress the minorities. Both the communities will have equal economic growth. 

Access NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Social Science (Civics) Chapter 1 - Power Sharing

1. What are the different forms of power sharing in modern democracies? Give an example of each of these.

Ans: The different forms of power sharing are:

• Horizontal Division of Power - Sharing of power between different departments of government, example, power sharing by the executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary. Here, power sharing arrangement, different departments of government, placed at the same level use different powers. This kind of separation makes sure that none of the departments use unlimited power.

• Vertical Division of Power - Sharing of power at different levels in a government. Example, a government for the whole country, and a government for the state. In India, it is the Central Government, State Government, Municipality, Gram Panchayat etc. The Constitution helps in laying down powers of different levels of government.

• Division of Power among Different Social Groups - Power can be shared among different groups which are different from religious groups. ‘Community Government’ in Belgium is an example of this kind of power sharing. Reserved constituencies in India are also another example. This kind of arrangement is used for fair share in power.

• Division of Power among Political Parties, Pressure Groups and Movements - In contemporary democracy such a division takes the form of competition among different parties, which in turn ensures that power does not remain in one hand and is shared among different political parties representing different ideologies and social groups.

2. State one prudential reason and one moral reason for power sharing with an example from the Indian context.

Ans:

• Prudential Reason: Power sharing helps in reducing the conflict between various social groups. So, power sharing is necessary for maintaining social harmony and peace. In India, seats are reserved for weaker sections. Example: reservation of seats for SC and ST. This helps weaker sections to contribute in running the Government.

• Moral Reason: It holds the spirit of democracy. In a democratic setup, the citizens too have a stake in governance. The citizens in India come together to debate the policies and decisions of the government, this will put pressure on the government to rethink about the policies and its decisions.

3. After reading the chapter, three students drew different conclusions. Which of these do you agree with and why? Give your reason in about 50 words.

• Thomman - Power sharing is necessary only in societies which have religions, 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 statement is quite logical, hence, should be agreed on. Any society requires power sharing even if it is small.

In a democratic society, members or citizens participate and acquire stake in the system. Power sharing prevents conflict between any two groups, it also generates a sense of belongingness in the society.

Power sharing helps in maintaining a balance of power in various institutions, irrespective of type of society and its size people will be satisfied where they have a role to play in decision making.

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 this’ measure is in keeping with the spirit of Belgium’s power sharing arrangements? Give your reason in about 50 words.

Ans: No, this measure was not related to Belgium’s power sharing arrangements. The arrangements seek to maintain peace between the French and Dutch speaking communities. Both French and Dutch languages will be made acceptable in town’s schools. Bilingual education system is a better way to integrate the people.

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 realize 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 for power sharing offered in the above passage is giving power to panchayats. It is a way to reduce corruption and increase administrative efficiency.

6. Different arguments are usually put forth in favor of and against power sharing. Identify those which are in favor 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 decision making process

4. Accommodates diversities

5. Increase instability and divisiveness

6. Promotes people’s participation in government

7. Undermines the unity of a country

Ans:

7. 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? 

1. A, B, C and D 

2. A, B and D 

3. C and D 

4. B, C and D

Ans: 

Option d) B, C and D

Q8. 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:

Ans:

9. Consider the following two statements on power sharing and select the answer using the codes given below:

1. Power sharing is good for democracy.

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

Which of these statements are true and false?

1. A is true but B is false

2. Both A and B are true

3. Both A and B are false

4. A is false but B is true

Ans:

Option b) Both A and B are true.

NCERT Civics Class 10 Chapter 1 - Questions Overview

Vedantu is the master of providing all materials in the format of a PDF and they are available on the world wide web as well. Materials being available offline makes sure that students can access them without the connection of the internet as well. Sample questions along with solutions make sure that the student can prepare much better from the examination perspective.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Civics Chapter 1 Power-Sharing

In chapter 1 Civics Class 10, there are many different kinds of sharing of power in the democracies which are modern. The questions in vedantu can answer these. The horizontal dividing of the power is all about the power-sharing among the organs of the government and as an example, it can be said that sharing is done by that of the Judiciary, Legislative, and Executive. The module goes on to describe that during this type of sharing of power arrangement there are many organs of that of the government that have been placed at an equal level by exercising multifarious powers. This kind of separation makes sure that the organs of the government can be able to exercise the power which is unlimited hence checking one another. 

There is also the vertical division of power and therefore is a system of sharing of power for that of the government at many different levels. As an example, it can be said that the government in general for that of the whole country along with the governments which are at the regional or the provincial levels. It is in India that one refers to the same as the Central Government, Municipality, State Governments and Gram Panchayat etc. 

NCERT Questions on the Reasons for Power-Sharing in Class 10 

The answer to this question begins with that of a prudential reason as the sharing of power helps in the reduction of conflict among many of the social groups. This is the reason why the sharing of power is extremely important for the maintenance of harmony in society along with that of peace. In the Indian context, there are seats that are preserved for that of the weaker sections in society. As an example, it can be said that the seats and their reservation for that of the Scheduled tribes and scheduled castes. This will be allowing the weaker sects to be able to participate in the running of that of the government. 

There is also a moral reason which is that the spirit of democracy is upheld by this kind of a system of reservation. In a setup that is truly democratic, the ordinary citizens also have a say in the government. In a country like that of India, its citizens may be able to come together to debate and critique the decisions and the policies of that of the government. This can grill the government into taking the right decision for the sake of the entire nation. 

All information has been provided on the Vedantu website with as much lucidity as possible. The solutions are given in a way that students are able to understand and score higher than they normally would. 

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Social Science Political Science Chapter 1

The subject of Social Sciences is very vital in standard 10. It is the combined mix of Economics, Political Science, Geography, and History. Students will have to be laying emphasis on the same so that they are able to score their personal best in the extremely crucial board examinations. Democratic Politics is something that is also very very important since it provides us with the idea in regards to how a government is working. 

NCERT Class 10 Social Science (Democratic Politics) Other Chapters Solutions PDF 

• Chapter 2 - Federalism

• Chapter 3 - Democracy and Diversity

• Chapter 4 - Gender, Religion and Caste

• Chapter 5 - Popular Struggles and Movements

• Chapter 6 - Political Parties

NCERT Class 10 Social Science Books Available for

• NCERT Solutions Class 10 Social Science - Understanding Economic Development

• NCERT Solutions Class 10 Social Science - India and the Contemporary World - II

• NCERT Solutions Class 10 Social Science - Democratic Politics