NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Social Science Chapter 1 - Power Sharing

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The chapter “Power Sharing” shares the stories from Sri Lanka and Belgium. In both the stories, there is a mention of how democracies manage the demands for power-sharing. The stories conclude with how there is a requirement for power-sharing in democracy. Also, the chapter discusses various forms of power-sharing.

Question 1:

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

Or

Explain any three forms of power sharing arrangements prevalent in modern democracies.

Or

Analyse the three forms of power sharing prevalent in India.

Answer:
  1. Power is shared among different organs of the government, i.e., legislature, executive and judiciary. Legislature is an organ of the government that makes laws for the country. Executive is that organ which executes or implements the decisions of legislature and judiciary is that organ of the government which examines the constitutionality of the laws. Judiciary uses these laws, to punish law breakers.
    Example: Powers in our country are divided among the executive (government), the legislature (parliament) and the judiciary (Supreme Court) by the Indian Constitution.
  2. Power is shared ‘among governments at different levels’. It means that in the federal system of government, there is one central government that has the power to execute decisions for the whole country and there are many different provincial governments for different states of the country. This is known as the federal division of powers.
    Example: In India, powers are divided between the central and state governments by the Indian Constitution.
  3. The third form of power sharing is that power is shared among different social groups of the country, like linguistic groups and religious groups. This method of power sharing is used in many countries to give a proper share of power to minority communities.
    Example: The community government of Belgium is an example of this type of power sharing.
  4. The fourth and the last form of power sharing is that the power is shared among different political parties and pressure groups. In the multi-party system, each party contests the election to grab the power of the country and each party is free to get as many votes as it can. Any party can win the majority in the election.
    Example: In India, there is a multi-party system, consisting of several parties, like Congress, BJP, BSP, etc. Each party has a fair chance to contest election and win majority in the country’s legislature.
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Question 2:

State one prudential reason and one moral reason for power sharing. Give one example from the Indian context.

Answer:
  1. Prudential reason: The prudential reason of power sharing states that power sharing reduces the chances of conflict between social groups in the country where a large number of different linguistic, ethnic and religious groups reside. As a social conflict results in political instability and violence, power sharing helps in a number of ways to increase the stability of political order. If the majority group of the country tries to impose its will on the minority group, it can increase the tension in the country and in those groups, as well. Power sharing means joint exercise of power. If power is exercised jointly, it will become more constructive for the country in the long run. If the majority becomes oppressive against minority, it brings ruin.
  2. Moral reason: The second reason of power sharing is moral. This reason of power sharing is good for modern democracies. In democracy, power is shared between those who: (i) exercise the power that is vested in their hands, and (ii) on whom this power is being exercised. In a democracy, people have the last say because they are responsible for entrusting and taking away the power. The basic principle of moral reason says that all political parties get power in coalition government, decentralisation of power, protection of rights of minority groups and everyone has a say in the decision-making process.
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Question 3:

After reading this chapter, three students drew three 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.

Or

Does the size of the country has anything to do with the process of power sharing? Which factors are involved in this process?

Answer:

The process of power sharing has nothing to do with the size of the country. Any country wherein a number of groups based on religion, ethnicity, etc. live, requires a process of power sharing. Power sharing is very necessary in the deeply divided societies because it not only reduces social unrest among different groups; it increases political stability as well. Each social, ethnic and religious group has its vested interests and the representation of every group is very much required to give a share to their voice. Representation of each group is necessary in working the system to reduce the tension and to increase the belief in different groups. Political stability and maintenance of peace have nothing to do with the size of the country. They both are required in every country. So, we agree with Ouseph’s view that every society needs some form of power sharing even if it is small or does not have social division. Other factors that are involved in power sharing are cultural, social, regional, linguistic differences and multi-ethnicity in the country.

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Question 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 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.

Answer:

No, the step taken by the Mayor of Merchtem is not according to the spirit of power sharing arrangement of Belgium. 59% of the people of Belgium speak Dutch and 40% of the people of Belgium speak French. His step of banning French in town’s schools will not lead to the coexistence of both the groups and will increase the sense of suspicion and distrust among the French speaking people. It is against the spirit of power sharing of Belgium because that spirit has tried to accommodate every linguistic group of Belgium in the process of power sharing, so that everyone can live in peace with each other. This ban on French language can increase civic strife in different groups and may lead to a division of the Belgian society on linguistic basis.

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Question 5:

After reading this chapter, three students drew three 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.

Or

Does the size of the country has anything to do with the process of power sharing? Which factors are involved in this process?

Answer:

The process of power sharing has nothing to do with the size of the country. Any country wherein a number of groups based on religion, ethnicity, etc. live, requires a process of power sharing. Power sharing is very necessary in the deeply divided societies because it not only reduces social unrest among different groups; it increases political stability as well. Each social, ethnic and religious group has its vested interests and the representation of every group is very much required to give a share to their voice. Representation of each group is necessary in working the system to reduce the tension and to increase the belief in different groups. Political stability and maintenance of peace have nothing to do with the size of the country. They both are required in every country. So, we agree with Ouseph’s view that every society needs some form of power sharing even if it is small or does not have social division. Other factors that are involved in power sharing are cultural, social, regional, linguistic differences and multi-ethnicity in the country.

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Question 6:

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.

Answer:

No, the step taken by the Mayor of Merchtem is not according to the spirit of power sharing arrangement of Belgium. 59% of the people of Belgium speak Dutch and 40% of the people of Belgium speak French. His step of banning French in town’s schools will not lead to the coexistence of both the groups and will increase the sense of suspicion and distrust among the French speaking people. It is against the spirit of power sharing of Belgium because that spirit has tried to accommodate every linguistic group of Belgium in the process of power sharing, so that everyone can live in peace with each other. This ban on French language can increase civic strife in different groups and may lead to a division of the Belgian society on linguistic basis.

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Question 7:

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 and 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:

Many prudential reasons are given in this passage about power sharing and these reasons are as follows:

  1. Reducing corruption: This passage says that if power is given to the people, they will become responsible in taking their decisions and it will lead to reduced corruption in the country.
  2. Increasing administrative efficiency: This passage explains that if people are involved in power sharing process, it will lead to the increased administrative efficiency as people themselves will take their own decisions.
  3. Reducing middlemen: It also describes that this system will reduce the role of the middlemen to a great extent between the people and the executives and between the planning and implementation of the schemes.
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Question 8:

Different arguments are usually put forth in favour of and against power sharing. Identify those that are in favour of power sharing and select the answer using the codes given ahead.

Power sharing:

  1. reduces conflict among different communities
  2. decreases the possibility of arbitrariness
  3. delays 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

Answer:

In favour of power sharing:

  1. reduces conflict among different communities
  2. decreases the possibility of arbitrariness
  3. accommodates diversities
  4. promotes people’s participation in government.
    Answer is option (a)—ABDF
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Question 9:

Consider the following statements about power sharing arrangements in Belgium and Sri Lanka.

  1. In Belgium, the majority Dutch-speaking people tried to impose their domination on the minority Frenchspeaking 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 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
Answer:

(a) A, B, C and D

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Question 10:

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:

  1. Power shared among different organs of government
  2. Power shared among governments at different levels
  3. Power shared by different social groups
  4. Power shared by two or more political parties
Answer:

1. (b), 2. (d), 3. (a), 4. (c)

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Question 11:

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 is true or 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
Answer:

(b) Both A and B are true

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Question 12:

Look at the maps of Belgium and Sri Lanka (given below). In which region do you find the concentration of different communities.

Answer:

By looking at the map of Belgium, we can see that out of the country’s total population, 59% lives in Flemish region and speaks Dutch while 40% lives in Wallonia region and speaks French. In Brussels, 80% people speak French while 20% speak Dutch.

On the other hand, Sri Lanka has diverse population with two major social groups. These two groups speak Sinhalese and Tamil. The Sinhalese speakers are 74% while Tamil is only spoken by 18%. Among the Tamilspeaking

people, there are two sub-groups. These are Sri Lankan Tamils (13%) and Indian Tamils (5%). Sri Lankan Tamils are in a majority and are concentrated in the northern and eastern parts of the country.

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Question 13:

Annette studies in a Dutch medium school in the northern region of Belgium. Many French-speaking students in her school want the medium of instruction to be French. Selvi studies in a school in the northern region of Sri Lanka. All the students in her school are Tamil-speaking and they want the medium of instruction to be Tamil.

If the parents of Annette and Selvi were to approach their respective governments to realise the desire of their children, who is more likely to succeed? Why.

Answer:

Annette’s parents would likely succeed, because, the constitution of Belgium declares that the community Government has the power regarding cultural, educational and language-related issues. It can solve their issue, but in case of Sri Lanka, Sinhalas have established their supremacy; so, there is no chance of Selvi’s parents succeeding.

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Question 14:

Read any newspaper for one week and make clippings of news related to ongoing conflicts or wars.

A group of five students could pool their clippings together and do the following:

- Classify these conflicts by their location (your state, India, outside India).

- Find out the cause of each of these conflicts. How many of these are related to power sharing disputes?

- Which of these conflicts could be resolved by working out power sharing arrangements?

Answer:

Hints/Guidelines: In this project, teachers can play an important role. They can divide students in groups of five and ask them to collect the clippings of newspapers, which are related to different conflicts. After one week, the teacher can monitor the collection and can ask them to have a group discussion in the class.
Students can give their views on different reasons of conflicts and discuss how these conflicts could be resolved. On the basis of this discussion, groups can be awarded first, second and third ranks. Even individual students can be awarded.

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