SEBA Class 9 Political Science: Political Parties in India

EXERCISE SOLUTION

A) Very Short Answer Questions:

1. Give the name of a country having one-party rule.

Answer: A country that has one-party rule is China.

2. What is the party system that is found in the United States of America?

Answer: The party system found in the United States of America is a bi-party system.

3. Mention two characteristics of a political party.

Answer: The two characteristics of a political party are-

(a) Organisation. (b) principle, ideals and planning. (c) Aspiration for capturing power,

(d) Regard for national interest.

4. Mention a chief function of a political party.

Answer: A chief function of a political party is to educate the people by giving political instructions and creating political awareness among them.

5. Mention the name of a regional party of Assam.

Answer: Asom Gana Parishad is a regional political party of Assam.

6. What is the name of the chief regional party of Jharkhand?

Answer: The chief regional party of Jharkhand is Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.

7. Give the full form of UPA.

Answer: UPA stands for United Progressive Alliance.

8. Which is the first political party of India?

Answer: The first political party of India is the Indian National Congress.

9. Under whose leadership was the Indian Association formed?

Answer: The Indian Association was formed under the leadership of Surendranath Banerjee.

10. Who was the first President of the Indian National Congress?

Answer: Woomesh Chandra Banerjee was the first President of the Indian National Congress.

B) Very Short Answer Questions:

1. What is the chief characteristic of the Indian political system?

Answer: The chief characteristic of the Indian political system is that it follows a multi-party system. In India, many political parties take part in elections, and the people have the freedom to choose any one party based on their ideas and principles.

2. Which party system is particularly useful for a democratic state?

Answer: The bi-party system is particularly useful for a democratic state because it gives more stability to the government. In this system, there are only two main parties, so chances of political crisis are less. It helps the government to run smoothly without frequent changes.

3. Mention four chief characteristics of a political party.

Answer: The four chief characteristics of a political party are:

1. It has a proper organisation.

2. It follows certain principles, ideals, and planning.

3. It tries to capture political power.

4. It works for the national interest.

4. Give the names of five regional political parties of India.

Answer: The five regional political parties of India are:

1. DMK

2. Akali Dal

3. Telugu Desam

4. Asom Gana Parishad

5. Shiv Sena

5. What is meant by the term Alliance government?

Answer: SAME AS ANSWER NO C) 1

C) Long Answer Questions:

1. What is meant by an Alliance government?

Answer: An Alliance government is formed when no single political party gets an absolute majority in the General elections. In such cases, some like-minded political parties come together, adjust their ideals, and agree on a common minimum programme to form the government. This type of government is also called a Coalition government. The parties involved may have different principles but unite to share power and run the government together.

2. Discuss two merits and two demerits of the Coalition or Alliance government.

Answer: The demerits of the Coalition or Alliance government are given as follows:

a) Unstable and Short-lived: Coalition governments are often unstable because member parties may withdraw support at any time, leading to the collapse of the government.

b) Weak Decision-Making: Such governments are usually weak and unable to take bold decisions, as they have to keep all alliance partners satisfied.

c) No Long-Term Planning: Due to uncertainty and lack of stability, coalition governments find it difficult to implement long-term schemes and policies.

d) Ambitions of Member Parties: Many leaders in coalition governments focus more on personal or party gains. Their selfish interests can make the government act against public welfare.

The merits of the coalition or Alliance government are given as follows:

a) Situational Suitability: Alliance governments are suitable for the changing political conditions of a vast country like India and help maintain political stability.

b) Non-Autocratic in Nature: In an alliance government, decisions are made through discussion among all member parties. This prevents any one party from misusing power and reduces the chances of the government becoming autocratic.

c) Better Regional Representation: Various regional parties get a chance to take part in the government, helping to solve local problems effectively.

D) Promotes National Unity: Alliance governments bring different political parties together on one platform. They adjust their ideals for a common goal, which helps in reducing conflicts and strengthens national unity and integration.

3. Discuss the role of the opposition in democracy.

Answer: The opposition plays a very important role in a democracy. Its main duties are:

1. Keeps Watch on the Government:
The opposition acts like a watchdog. It keeps an eye on the actions of the ruling party and ensures the government does not do anything against the public or national interest.

2. Constructive Criticism and Public Voice:
It presents the hopes, needs, and problems of the people in the Parliament. If any government plan or scheme is not right, the opposition gives suggestions and points out flaws through constructive criticism.

3. Maintains Democracy and Awareness:
The opposition makes the government alert, responsible, and accountable. It also spreads political awareness among the public and helps form public opinion.

4. Stops Autocratic Rule:

The opposition prevents the ruling party from becoming autocratic or misusing power. It makes sure that the government follows democratic rules and does not act like a dictator.

4. Discuss the main reasons for the birth of regional parties.

Answer: The following are the reasons for the birth of regional political parties in the country
(a) The discriminatory views, attitudes and principles of the All India national parties,
(b) Linguistic and religious diversity of the people living in different parts of the country.
(c) The insecure feelings among the minorities.
(d) The union government's policy for centralisation of power and to gain the sole rights of the invaluable various resources of the different states.
(e) The lack of equal justification of the union government towards all states.
(f) The weaknesses of the regional leaders belonging to the national parties or the union government, etc.

5. Write about the necessity of political parties in a democratic state.

Answer: Political parties are necessary in a democracy because they connect the people with the government. They help in forming public opinion, creating political awareness, and educating the masses. Without political parties, democracy cannot function properly. They help form the government and also act as opposition to check the ruling party. So, political parties are very important to keep democracy active, strong, and healthy.

6. Mention the characteristics and functions of a political party.

Answer: Characteristics of a Political Party:

1. Organisation.

2. Principle, ideals, and planning.

3. Aspiration for capturing power.

4. Regard for national interest.

Functions of a Political Party:

1. To educate the mass people by giving political instructions.

2. To develop political awareness among the mass people.

3. To mould public opinion.

4. To transform the public opinion into reality.

7. Discuss the reasons why the Alliance government system is getting special significance at present

Answer: The Alliance government system has become more important in recent times due to several political changes in India. As no single party is able to win a clear majority, alliances have become a practical solution. The main reasons are:

1. The number of political parties in India has increased.

2. The importance of a single political party has gone down.

3. If no stable government is formed after elections, holding another election wastes public money. Forming an alliance helps avoid this.

4. Alliance governments ensure better representation for different regions across the country.