Power Sharing NCERT Solutions Class 10 Social Science Chapter 1 with Answers

We have Provided the NCERT/CBSE Solutions chapter-wise for Class 10 Social Science Civics Chapter 1 Power Sharing with Answers by expert subject teacher for latest syllabus and examination. Students can take a free NCERT Solutions of Power Sharing. Each question has right answer Solved by Expert Teacher.

CBSE Solutions Class 10 Social Science Civics Power Sharing

Page No. 4

Text Questions

What’s wrong if the majority community rules? If Sinhalas don’t rule in Sri Lanka, where else will they rule?

Answer: Ruling by the majority does not mean oppression of the minority. Sinhalas which are in majority and in government in Sri Lanka disregarding the wishes and needs of the minority. In modern era, oppression is not morally correct to be in power. Democracy works on the majority of opinion, not by major community. A democratically elected government must be sensible to the people’s demands and protect citizen’s basic rights.

Page No. 9

In my school, the class monitor changes every month. Is that what you call a power sharing arrangement?

Answer: This is not power sharing arrangement as the class monitor has all the power at a time and this power is shifted to another in next month. There is no check on his/her power. The power must be shared among others which is an important feature of power sharing.

Page No. 10

Exercises

Q1. What are the different forms of power-sharing in modern democracies? Give an example of each of these.

Answer: Different forms of power sharing in modern democracies are-
(i) Horizontal distribution of power: The division of government into the legislature, executive and judiciary is an example of horizontal distribution of power. In this power sharing arrangement, the different organs of government are placed at the same level to exercise different powers. Such a separation ensures that none of the organs can exercise unlimited power.

Each organ checks the others. This results in a balance of power among various institutions. In a democracy, even though ministers and government officials exercise power, they are responsible to the Parliament or State Assemblies. In the same way, although judges are appointed by the executive, they can put a check on the functioning of executive. This arrangement is based on checks and balances.

Q2. State one prudential reason and one moral reason for power-sharing with an example from the Indian context.

Answer: (i) Prudential reason: Power sharing helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups. For example in India, Hindi has not been imposed on the southern states.

(ii) Moral reason: Power sharing is the very soul of democracy. People have right to be consulted on how they are to be governed. In India, reservation of seats for SCs and STs in state assemblies and parliament is an example of moral reason.

Q3. 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.

Answer: Ouseph’s statement is the most logical, and thus, should be agreed on. Every society needs some form of power sharing even if it is small or does not have social divisions. A democratic society is one where its members or citizens through participation acquire a

stake in the system. Power sharing not only prevents conflict between various groups in the society but it also generates a sense of belongingness among them to the society. Power sharing helps to maintain a balance of power among various institutions and also keep a check on how it is exercised. Irrespective of the size of a country or the type of a society, people will be more satisfied where they have a say in the functioning and decision making processes of the system.

Q4. 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.

Answer: This measure is not in keeping with Belgium’s power sharing arrangements. The arrangements seek to maintain peace between the French and Dutch-speaking communities. By banning French, the mayor will cause civil unrest. Both the languages should be made acceptable in the town’s schools. This bilingual education system will be a better way to integrate the people of the town.

Q5. 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.”

Answer: The following prudential reasons are cited into the passage for power sharing.
(a) Reducing corruption by giving power into the hands of the people and thus, making them responsible for their own decisions.
(b) Increasing administrative efficiency by delegating the decision-making function to the people affected by it.
(c) Improving the efficiency of the system by reducing the number of middlemen, and transferring the planning and implementation to the people concerned through the Panchayats.

Q6. 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:

A) reduces conflict among different communities
B) decreases the possibility of arbitrariness
C) delays decision making process
D) accommodates diversities
E) increases instability and divisiveness
F) promotes people’s participation in government
G) 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

Answer: (a) A B D F

Q7. 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, C and D
(b) A, B and D
(c) C and D
(d) B, C and D

Answer: (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:

Answer: Do yourself

Q9. 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?