Political Parties

1. What is one of the most visible institutions in a democracy?

(a) Constitution
(b) Judiciary
(c) Political parties
(d) Election Commission

Answer: (c) Political parties

2. Political parties are commonly associated with:

(a) Economic development
(b) Political and social divisions
(c) Judicial reforms
(d) Tax collection

Answer: (b) Political and social divisions

3. What is a political party?

(a) A social reform group
(b) A group of judges deciding cases
(c) A group of people contesting elections and holding power
(d) An economic advisory council

Answer: (c) A group of people contesting elections and holding power

4. Which of the following is not a component of a political party?

(a) Leaders
(b) Judiciary
(c) Active members
(d) Followers

Answer: (b) Judiciary

5. In the USA, candidates are selected by:

(a) President or Party Head
(b) Top party leaders
(c) Public service commissions
(d) Party members and supporters

Answer: (d) Party members and supporters

6. In India, who mostly selects the candidates for elections?

(a) Voters
(b) The Election Commission
(c) Top party leaders
(d) The President

Answer: (c) Top party leaders

Statement: In a democracy, a large number of similar opinions have to be grouped together to provide a direction in which policies can be formulated by the governments.

7. Political parties reduce diverse opinions into?

(a) Random suggestions
(b) Court rulings
(c) Basic positions
(d) Media headlines

Answer: (c) Basic positions

8. Political parties influence the making of laws by:

(a) Appointing judges
(b) Sponsoring activists
(c) Directing their members in the legislature
(d) Issuing executive orders

Answer: (c) Directing their members in the legislature

9. Who runs the government in a democracy?

(a) Civil servants
(b) Opposition leaders
(c) Political executive from parties
(d) Governors

Answer: (c) Political executive from parties

10. What role do opposition parties play?

(a) Approve budgets
(b) Criticise the government and mobilise opposition
(c) Enforce laws
(d) Train police officers

Answer: (b) Criticise the government and mobilise opposition

11. How do parties shape public opinion?

(a) By ignoring public issues
(b) Through military influence
(c) By raising and highlighting issues
(d) By manipulating people

Answer: (c) By raising and highlighting issues

12. Which of the following gives people access to government schemes?

(a) Police stations
(b) Private companies
(c) Political parties
(d) Hospitals

Answer: (c) Political parties

13. Why do people feel close to political parties?

(a) They enjoy watching party ads
(b) Parties are easier to approach than government officers
(c) Party workers give free gifts
(d) Leaders live in villages

Answer: (b) Parties are easier to approach than government officers

14. What happens in the absence of political parties?

(a) Efficient government
(b) Better communication
(c) No promises for policy changes
(d) Unified representation

Answer: (c) No promises for policy changes

15. What would elected representatives be accountable for in a no-party system?

(a) Running the central government
(b) Their constituency only
(c) Whole country's development
(d) Supreme Court decisions

Answer: (b) Their constituency only

16. What is observed in non-party based panchayat elections?

(a) No competition
(b) Villages remain united
(c) Factions put up their own panels
(d) Presidents are nominated by the state

Answer: (c) Factions put up their own panels

Explanation: Even when elections are held without formal political party involvement in Panchayat elections, people often form informal groups or factions within villages. These groups act like parties by supporting a common set of candidates, leading to a similar kind of political rivalry and division that is usually seen in party-based elections. This shows the natural tendency of democratic competition to take party-like forms.

17. What led to the rise of political parties?

(a) Religious movements
(b) Colonialism
(c) Emergence of representative democracies
(d) Media expansion

Answer: (c) Emergence of representative democracies

Explanation: The rise of political parties is directly linked to the emergence of representative democracies. (Page no. 49)

18. Which of the following best explains the role of political parties in a democracy?

(a) They help organize elections and form governments
(b) They represent different interests and opinions in society
(c) They ensure accountability by opposing the government when necessary
(d) All of the above

Answer: (d) All of the above

19. Which of the following is true about political parties in India?

(a) Only two parties are registered with the Election Commission
(b) Over 750 political parties are registered with the Election Commission
(c) All registered political parties are serious contenders in elections
(d) Only political parties of a particular region are registered

Answer: (b) Over 750 political parties are registered with the Election Commission

20. What type of political system exists in countries like China?

(a) Multiparty system
(b) Two-party system
(c) One-party system
(d) Coalition system

Answer: (c) One-party system

21. In a democratic system, what is necessary for competition in elections?

(a) Only one party must be allowed to run
(b) There should be at least two parties competing for power
(c) Only independent candidates can contest
(d) No parties should compete in elections

Answer: (b) There should be at least two parties competing for power

22. Which system allows only two parties to have a serious chance of forming the government?

(a) One-party system
(b) Two-party system
(c) Coalition system
(d) Multiparty system

Answer: (b) Two-party system

23. Which countries are examples of a two-party system?

(a) India and Japan
(b) United States and United Kingdom
(c) Brazil and Canada
(d) China and Russia

Answer: (b) United States and United Kingdom

24. What is a multiparty system?

(a) A system where only one party rules
(b) A system where several parties compete for power
(c) A system with only two major political parties
(d) A system that only allows coalitions to form governments

Answer: (b) A system where several parties compete for power

25. What is a coalition or alliance in the context of a multiparty system?

(a) A single party winning elections without opposition
(b) Several parties coming together to contest elections and form a government
(c) A group of independent candidates contesting elections
(d) A group of parties with no common policies

Answer: (b) Several parties coming together to contest elections and form a government

26. What is the main reason why India has a multiparty system?

(a) Because of its large population
(b) Because of its social, geographical, and regional diversity
(c) Because of the influence of neighboring countries
(d) Because of a recent change in the electoral system

Answer: (b) Because of its social, geographical, and regional diversity

27. What is a key feature of a "recognised" political party in India?

(a) They only exist in one state
(b) They have their own election symbol which only their official candidates can use
(c) They must be a national party to be recognised
(d) They do not participate in elections

Answer: (b) They have their own election symbol which only their official candidates can use

28. What is the criterion for a party to be recognised as a national party in India?

(a) It must secure at least 6% of the total votes in any state
(b) It must win at least four seats in the Lok Sabha after winning in four states
(c) It must secure at least 6% of the total votes in local elections
(d) It must be registered with the Election Commission only

Answer: (b) It must win at least four seats in the Lok Sabha after winning in four states

29. What term is commonly used for parties that have a political presence in only one state?

(a) National parties
(b) State parties
(c) Regional parties
(d) Coalitional parties

Answer: (c) Regional parties

30. How have the State parties influenced the political landscape in India since 1996?

(a) They have weakened federalism
(b) National parties have not formed alliances with them
(c) They have strengthened federalism and democracy by being part of national level coalitions
(d) They have limited their presence to only one state

Answer: (c) They have strengthened federalism and democracy by being part of national level coalitions

31. What is one of the major challenges faced by political parties in democracies?

(a) Lack of international recognition
(b) Lack of internal democracy
(c) Limited participation of the youth
(d) Limited media coverage

Answer: (b) Lack of internal democracy

32. What tends to happen in political parties due to the lack of internal democracy?

(a) Regular elections are held
(b) Ordinary members have more power
(c) Personal loyalty to the leader becomes more important than loyalty to party principles
(d) Decisions are made transparently

Answer: (c) Personal loyalty to the leader becomes more important than loyalty to party principles

33. What is one of the another major challenge faced by political parties?

(a) Lack of funds for campaigning
(b) Growing role of money and muscle power in elections
(c) Dynastic succession
(d) Too many members from different backgrounds

Answer: (c) Dynastic succession

34. How do political parties often end up supporting candidates with criminal backgrounds?

(a) They focus on winning elections and use shortcuts like supporting candidates with money or muscle power
(b) They prioritize the ideological beliefs of the candidates
(c) They want to represent every class of society
(d) They choose candidates based on their popularity and merit

Answer: (a) They focus on winning elections and use shortcuts like supporting candidates with money or muscle power

35. What is one issue related to the ideological differences among political parties in recent times?

(a) Increased differences between left-wing and right-wing parties
(b) Political parties offering little or no meaningful choice due to reduced ideological differences
(c) Political parties becoming more focused on international relations
(d) Political parties focusing on policies that are not relevant to citizens

Answer: (b) Political parties offering little or no meaningful choice due to reduced ideological differences

36. What is the challenge in reforming political parties in a democracy?

(a) Lack of public interest in politics
(b) Leaders in political parties are not willing to reform
(c) Political parties are not registered with the Election Commission
(d) People do not have the right to vote

Answer: (b) Leaders in political parties are not willing to reform

37. Which amendment was made to prevent elected representatives from changing parties?

(a) The Right to Information Act
(b) The Constitution was amended to prevent defection by elected MLAs and MPs
(c) The 1975 Emergency Act
(d) The Lok Sabha Reform Act

Answer: (b) The Constitution was amended to prevent defection by elected MLAs and MPs

38. What action did the Supreme Court take to reduce the influence of money and criminals in elections?

(a) It made it mandatory for all political parties to register with the Election Commission
(b) It introduced a cap on election campaign funds
(c) It required candidates to file an affidavit disclosing their property and criminal records
(d) It required all parties to have internal elections

Answer: (c) It required candidates to file an affidavit disclosing their property and criminal records

39. What is one of the suggestions for political party reform discussed in the book?

(a) Making political parties more dependent on foreign donations
(b) Creating a law to regulate the internal affairs of political parties
(c) Banning regional political parties
(d) Allowing only two major parties in the system

Answer: (b) Creating a law to regulate the internal affairs of political parties

40. What is the suggestion regarding women's participation in political parties?

(a) Political parties should give a minimum number of tickets to women candidates
(b) Women should be prohibited from running for office
(c) Women should only be allowed to run in local elections
(d) Political parties should be headed by women only

Answer: (a) Political parties should give a minimum number of tickets to women candidates

41. What are two ways suggested to reform political parties, apart from legal regulation?

(a) Increasing the number of political parties and banning defection
(b) Citizens putting pressure on political parties and encouraging active participation within parties
(c) Making elections mandatory for all citizens and holding referendums
(d) Introducing stricter punishments for political leaders

Answer: (b) Citizens putting pressure on political parties and encouraging active participation within parties

Top 10 Most Important MCQs on Political Parties (Part 2) – Class 10 Political Science | CBSE Class 10

1. Which political party was formed following the 2011 anti-corruption movement?

(a) Bharatiya Janata Party
(b) Bahujan Samaj Party
(c) Aam Aadmi Party
(d) Indian National Congress

Answer: (c) Aam Aadmi Party

2. Who was the founder of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)?

(a) Syama Prasad Mukherjee
(b) Kanshi Ram
(c) P.A. Sangma
(d) Arvind Kejriwal

Answer: (b) Kanshi Ram

3. Which party draws inspiration from the teachings of Ambedkar, Phule, Periyar, and Sahu Maharaj?

(a) CPI-M
(b) BJP
(c) BSP
(d) INC

Answer: (c) BSP

4. Which party is based on the ideology of Hindutva and integral humanism?

(a) INC
(b) BJP
(c) AAP
(d) CPI-M

Answer: (b) BJP

5. Who founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the predecessor of BJP?

(a) Deendayal Upadhyaya
(b) Syama Prasad Mukherjee
(c) L.K. Advani
(d) Narendra Modi

Answer: (b) Syama Prasad Mukherjee

6. Which party ruled West Bengal continuously for 34 years?

(a) CPI-M
(b) INC
(c) BJP
(d) BSP

Answer: (a) CPI-M

7. Which party was the ruling party at the Centre till 1977 and from 1980 to 1989?

(a) BJP
(b) AAP
(c) CPI-M
(d) INC

Answer: (d) INC

8. Which party is the first from the North-East to attain national party status?

(a) AAP
(b) NPP
(c) CPI-M
(d) BSP

Answer: (b) NPP (National People's Party, Founder: P.A Sangma)

9. Which party promotes education, employment, and empowerment in the North East?

(a) INC
(b) BJP
(c) NPP
(d) CPI-M

Answer: (c) NPP

10. Which of the following is the correct chronological order of the formation of these political parties?
I. Indian National Congress (INC)
II. Trinamool Congress (TMC)
III. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
IV. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)
V. Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)]

(a) I, V, III, IV, II
(b) I, III, V, IV, II
(c) I, V, IV, III, II
(d) I, IV, V, III, II

Answer: (a) I, V, III, IV, II

Explanation of formation years:
• INC – 1885
• CPI(M) – 1964
• BJP – 1980
• BSP – 1984
• TMC – 1998