NCERT Questions & Answers + Important Extra Questions
NCERT Textbook Questions
State the various functions political parties perform in a democracy.
Answer
Political parties perform essential functions in a democracy:
(i) Contest elections: Parties select candidates and put them up for elections. In India, candidates are selected by top party leaders (though some parties use internal elections).
(ii) Put forward policies and programmes: Parties have ideologies and policies on major issues — economy, foreign policy, social welfare. Voters choose between these competing visions. Parties present their agenda through election manifestos.
(iii) Make laws: When a party wins a majority, it forms the government and its members debate and pass laws in Parliament/Assemblies. The ruling party shapes legislation.
(iv) Form government: The winning party (or coalition) forms the government, with its leader becoming the Prime Minister/Chief Minister. Ministers are drawn from the party.
(v) Role of opposition: Parties that lose elections form the opposition, which critiques the government, highlights failures, and mobilises public opinion against wrong policies. The opposition keeps the government accountable.
(vi) Shape public opinion: Parties raise issues, educate voters, and mobilise people around causes. They highlight problems and propose solutions, shaping the public discourse.
(vii) Provide access to government: For ordinary citizens, political parties are the main channel to approach the government. People contact local party leaders to solve their problems.
What are the various challenges faced by political parties?
Answer
Major challenges faced by political parties in India:
(i) Lack of internal democracy: Most parties are dominated by a few leaders at the top. Ordinary members have no role in decision-making. There are no regular internal elections — leaders stay in power for decades. This leads to personality cults and sycophancy.
(ii) Dynastic succession: Many parties are controlled by one family — the "high command" of the party passes from one generation to the next. This blocks talented leaders without family connections from rising. Examples: several national and regional parties are family-run.
(iii) Money and muscle power: Elections have become very expensive. Parties need enormous funds, which often come from wealthy individuals and businesses who expect favours in return. Criminals with money enter politics to gain immunity and power — a significant number of legislators face criminal charges.
(iv) Meaningful choice: Parties increasingly look alike in their policies. The ideological differences between parties have blurred. Voters often don't have a meaningful choice between genuinely different programmes. Many parties resort to populism rather than addressing structural issues.
Suggest some reforms to strengthen parties so that they perform their functions well.
Answer
Reforms to strengthen political parties:
(i) Internal democracy: Laws should require parties to maintain a register of members, hold regular internal elections for party positions, and follow their own constitutions. The Election Commission should mandate and supervise internal elections.
(ii) Financial transparency: Parties should be required to file detailed income-tax returns and publicly disclose all donations above a threshold. State funding of elections can reduce dependence on private donors. Electoral bonds should be transparent.
(iii) Anti-defection law strengthening: The law against party-switching should be made more effective to prevent horse-trading and floor-crossing.
(iv) Reservation for women: At least one-third of party candidates should be women — this would increase women's political participation beyond just local bodies.
(v) Ban on criminals: People facing serious criminal charges should be barred from contesting elections or at least from holding party positions.
(vi) RTI for parties: Political parties should be brought fully under the Right to Information Act for transparency.
(vii) Citizens' role: Citizens should put pressure on parties through petitions, campaigns, and informed voting. Voter awareness campaigns can reduce the influence of money and caste.
What is a political party? Why do we need political parties?
Answer
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 the society, seeking to promote the collective good. Every party has three components: (i) Leaders who guide and make decisions, (ii) Active members who participate in campaigns, and (iii) Followers who support the party.
Why we need political parties
(i) Without parties, every candidate would be independent — there would be no coherent policies, no stable government, and no accountability. Governance would be chaotic.
(ii) Parties aggregate diverse interests of society into a workable programme. A single farmer or worker cannot influence policy alone, but through a party, millions can.
(iii) Parties provide opposition — without an organised opposition, the government would become autocratic.
(iv) In large democracies like India, parties are the only way to organise meaningful electoral competition across thousands of constituencies.
Describe the major national parties of India.
Answer
A party recognised in four or more states is a national party. Major national parties:
(i) Indian National Congress (INC): Founded 1885. One of the oldest parties in the world. Led India's independence movement. Centrist ideology — secular, welfare state, mixed economy. Has been in power at the Centre for the longest period since independence.
(ii) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP): Founded 1980 (from Bharatiya Jana Sangh, 1951). Right-of-centre — cultural nationalism, strong national defence, economic liberalisation. Currently the dominant ruling party at the Centre.
(iii) Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP): Founded 1984 by Kanshi Ram. Represents Dalits, backward castes, adivasis, and minorities. Ideology: social justice and empowerment of the most oppressed sections. Strong base in Uttar Pradesh.
(iv) Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPI-M): Founded 1964. Marxist-Leninist ideology. Supports land reform, workers' rights, secularism, anti-imperialism. Strong base in Kerala, West Bengal, and Tripura.
(v) Communist Party of India (CPI): Founded 1925. India's oldest communist party. Similar to CPI-M but less radical. Supports the Congress-led coalitions.
(vi) Nationalist Congress Party (NCP): Founded 1999. Split from Congress. Strong base in Maharashtra. Centre-left ideology.
(vii) Aam Aadmi Party (AAP): Founded 2012. Born from anti-corruption movement. Governance in Delhi and Punjab.
Important Extra Questions
What is a party system? What are the different types?
Answer
(i) One-party system: Only one party is allowed to control and run the government. There is no competition. Examples: China (Communist Party), Cuba. This is not democratic because people have no choice.
(ii) Two-party system: Two major parties dominate, and power alternates between them. Other parties may exist but rarely win. Examples: USA (Democrats vs Republicans), UK (Labour vs Conservatives). This provides clear choice and stable government but limits voter options.
(iii) Multi-party system: Several parties compete for power, and coalition governments are common. Examples: India (BJP, Congress, AAP, TMC, DMK, etc.), France, Germany. This gives voters more choice and represents diverse interests, but can lead to unstable coalitions.
India has evolved a multi-party system because of its vast social diversity — different regions, languages, religions, castes, and ideologies need different parties to represent them. No single party can represent all of India's diversity.
What is the role of the opposition in a democracy?
Answer
The opposition plays a vital role in a healthy democracy:
(i) Checks the government: The opposition scrutinises government actions, exposes corruption, and highlights policy failures. Question Hour in Parliament is a key mechanism.
(ii) Debates and improves laws: By opposing, amending, and debating bills in Parliament, the opposition improves the quality of legislation. Many bad laws have been prevented or improved by opposition pressure.
(iii) Provides alternative: The opposition presents itself as an alternative government with different policies, giving voters a choice in the next election.
(iv) Represents dissent: In a diverse democracy, not everyone agrees with the government. The opposition gives voice to those who disagree, ensuring their concerns are heard.
(v) Prevents tyranny: A government without opposition tends to become authoritarian. The opposition ensures that the ruling party does not abuse its power.
(vi) The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha has a statutory role — member of selection committees for CBI Director, CVC, Lokpal, etc.