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Political Science — Practice Paper (Set 1)

CBSE Class 10 · Democratic Politics-II · All 5 chapters · Very difficult (HOTS)

Subject: Political Science (Social Science)Class: XMaximum Marks: 45Suggested Time: 1 hr 30 min

General Instructions

1. This practice paper covers the complete Political Science syllabus (Democratic Politics-II, Chapters 1–5) in the CBSE Social Science format.
2. Section A (Q1–10) carries 1 mark each — multiple-choice and assertion–reason.
3. Section B (Q11–14) carries 2 marks each — very short answers (≤40 words).
4. Section C (Q15–17) carries 3 marks each — short answers (≤60 words).
5. Section D (Q18–19) carries 5 marks each — long answers (≤120 words).
6. Section E (Q20–21) are case/source-based, 4 marks each (sub-parts 1+1+2).
7. These questions are deliberately set harder than the board paper. Attempt all, then open "Show answer".
Assertion–Reason key: (a) Both A and R true and R is the correct explanation of A; (b) Both true but R is not the correct explanation; (c) A true, R false; (d) A false, R true.
Section A — Objective (10 × 1 = 10)

Multiple-choice and assertion–reason. Each distractor is a specific misconception — read carefully.

1Q1. In Belgium, the ‘Community Government’ is distinctive because it is elected by people belonging to one language community — Dutch, French or German-speaking — no matter where they live. This device most directly addresses:
  1. Vertical division of power between Centre and regions
  2. Power sharing among different social groups
  3. Separation of powers among organs of government
  4. Coalition among political parties
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(b) Power sharing among social groups (linguistic communities). It is not territorial (that is the regional government), nor horizontal (organs), nor a party coalition.
1Q2. Assertion (A): Residuary subjects in India are legislated upon by the Union Government.
Reason (R): India is a ‘holding-together’ federation in which the Central Government tends to be more powerful than the States.
Show answer
(a) Both true and R correctly explains A. Because India is a holding-together federation with a stronger centre, the Constitution assigns residuary powers (subjects in no list) to the Union.
1Q3. A state law and a Union law, both made on a Concurrent List subject, conflict. Which prevails?
  1. The state law, because the subject affects local people
  2. The Union law, because on the Concurrent List the Union law prevails
  3. Whichever was enacted earlier
  4. Neither — the Supreme Court frames a new law
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(b) On the Concurrent List, if laws conflict, the Union law prevails.
1Q4. When we speak of gender division, we refer to:
  1. The biological difference between men and women
  2. Unequal roles assigned by society to men and women
  3. The declining child sex ratio
  4. The absence of voting rights for women
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(b) Gender division is based on social expectations and stereotypes (unequal roles society assigns), not on biology.
1Q5. Assertion (A): A secular Constitution is sufficient to end communalism in India.
Reason (R): Communal prejudice also operates in everyday life and must be countered there.
Show answer
(d) A is false, R is true. A secular Constitution is necessary but not sufficient; because prejudice works in everyday life (R), the Constitution alone cannot end communalism, so A is false.
1Q6. Which grouping is correct for the recognition of a national party by the Election Commission?
  1. 6% votes in one state + 2 seats in that assembly
  2. 6% votes in Lok Sabha/Assembly polls in four states + at least 4 Lok Sabha seats
  3. Simply registering with the Election Commission
  4. Winning any 10 Lok Sabha seats
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(b) National-party criteria: 6% of votes in four states (LS/Assembly) AND at least 4 Lok Sabha seats. Option (a) is the state-party rule.
1Q7. The anti-defection amendment reduced defection, but had an unintended consequence:
  1. It increased the number of independents
  2. It made dissent within a party harder — members must accept the leaders’ decisions
  3. It abolished the party-whip system
  4. It ended coalition governments
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(b) With the threat of losing their seat, MLAs/MPs must accept the leadership’s line, so internal dissent became harder.
1Q8. Using the growth data (1950–2000): all democracies grew at 3.95 and all dictatorships at 4.42, but poor democracies (4.28) and poor dictatorships (4.34) were almost equal. The best conclusion is:
  1. Democracy guarantees faster growth
  2. Democracy is not a guarantee of development, but in poor countries the gap is negligible
  3. Dictatorship is always better for the poor
  4. Growth is identical under all regimes
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(b) Democracy does not guarantee faster growth, yet the poor-country gap is negligible — so it is reasonable to prefer democracy for its other benefits.
1Q9. In assessing democracy, which is the odd one out among things a democracy must ensure?
  1. Free and fair elections
  2. Dignity of the individual
  3. Majority rule
  4. Equal treatment before law
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(c) Majority rule. Democracy is not simply majority rule; the other three are genuine requirements.
1Q10. Assertion (A): One-person-one-vote means there is no domination or conflict in a democracy.
Reason (R): Universal franchise establishes political equality among all citizens.
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(d) A is false, R is true. The vote gives political equality (R), but economic and social inequalities, domination and conflict still exist — so A is false.
Section B — Very Short Answer (4 × 2 = 8)

Answer in about 40 words each.

2Q11. Distinguish between a ‘coming-together’ and a ‘holding-together’ federation, giving one example of each.
Show answer
Coming-together: independent states voluntarily unite, pooling sovereignty while keeping identity; units are strong and equal — e.g. USA. Holding-together: a large country divides its power between the centre and states; the centre is stronger and units may be unequal — e.g. India.
2Q12. ‘Caste alone cannot determine election results in India.’ Give two reasons.
Show answer
(i) No constituency has a single-caste majority, so every candidate must win the confidence of several castes. (ii) No party wins all votes of a caste, and ruling parties/sitting MLAs frequently lose — impossible if voters were frozen by caste.
2Q13. State any two steps taken in India to reform political parties.
Show answer
(i) The anti-defection law — an MLA/MP who changes party loses the seat. (ii) The Supreme Court made it mandatory for candidates to file an affidavit declaring their property and pending criminal cases. (Also: EC order to hold internal elections and file IT returns.)
2Q14. Why is a democratic government called a ‘legitimate government’ even when it is slow or imperfect?
Show answer
Because it is the people’s own government — chosen by citizens through free and fair elections. It may be slow, less efficient or not fully clean, but its authority rests on popular consent, which is why there is overwhelming worldwide support for democracy.
Section C — Short Answer (3 × 3 = 9)

Answer in about 60 words each. At least one question joins two chapters.

3Q15. Explain the two conditions a democracy must fulfil to accommodate social diversity, using the contrast with Sri Lanka.
Show answer
(i) Democracy is not simply rule by majority opinion — the majority must work with the minority, since majority/minority opinions are not permanent. (ii) Rule by majority must not become rule by one community (religion/race/language); every citizen must have a chance of being in the majority. Sri Lanka’s majoritarian ‘Sinhala-only’ approach barred Tamils and bred conflict — showing what happens when these conditions fail.
3Q16. (Joins Ch 4 & Ch 2.) How did the rise of regional parties and coalition politics after 1990 strengthen Indian federalism?
Show answer
After 1990 no single national party could win a Lok Sabha majority (until 2014), so national parties had to ally with state/regional parties. Since 1996 nearly every regional party joined some national coalition, giving regions a share of national power and forcing accommodation of their demands. A Supreme Court judgement also curbed arbitrary dismissal of state governments. Together these deepened federal power sharing.
3Q17. ‘The very visibility of political parties does not make them popular.’ Discuss with reference to the challenges parties face.
Show answer
Parties are the most visible face of democracy, so people blame them for all its failures and trust them little. This links to four challenges: lack of internal democracy, dynastic succession, the growing role of money and muscle power, and parties offering no meaningful choice (shrinking ideological difference). These weaknesses explain the gap between high visibility and low popularity.
Section D — Long Answer (2 × 5 = 10)

Answer in about 120 words each. Each needs more than one concept.

5Q18. ‘Democracy is seen to be good in principle but felt to be not so good in its practice.’ Examine this statement using at least three areas where democracy’s record is mixed, and state why we should still prefer it.
Show answer
Mixed record: (1) Accountability/transparency — good at elections and public debate, but a poor record on sharing information and not free of corruption; (2) Economic growth — dictatorships grew slightly faster overall, though the poor-country gap is negligible; (3) Inequality/poverty — political equality coexists with growing economic inequality, and governments seem not keen to tackle poverty. Why still prefer it: democracy alone provides a legitimate government, accommodates social diversity peacefully, and best promotes dignity and freedom; its examination never ends, and citizens’ very complaints show its success in turning subjects into citizens.
5Q19. ‘Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy.’ Explain the different forms of power sharing with an example of each.
Show answer
(1) Horizontal — among organs of government (legislature, executive, judiciary) with checks and balances, e.g. the courts checking the executive. (2) Vertical / federal — among different levels (Union, State, local), e.g. India’s three-tier system. (3) Among social groups — e.g. ‘community government’ in Belgium or reserved constituencies in India. (4) Among political parties, pressure groups and movements — e.g. coalition governments and alliances. Prudential reason: it reduces conflict and instability; moral reason: it is the very spirit of democracy, since those affected by power should have a share in it.
Section E — Case / Source-Based (2 × 4 = 8)

Read each source and answer the sub-parts (1 + 1 + 2 marks).

4Q20.
Nannu, a daily-wage earner in a Delhi slum, lost his ration card and applied for a duplicate in January 2004. For three months officials ignored him. He then filed an application under the Right to Information Act asking for the daily progress on his file, the names of the officials responsible, and what action would be taken against them for inaction. Within a week an inspector visited him, the card was made, and the officer even offered him tea and requested him to withdraw the RTI application.
(20.1) Which Act empowered Nannu? (1)
(20.2) Name the two values of a democratic government this illustrates. (1)
(20.3) ‘Transparency shifts power towards the citizen.’ Analyse how Nannu’s action changed the officials’ behaviour. (2)
Show answer
(20.1) The Right to Information (RTI) Act. (20.2) Transparency and accountability (also responsiveness). (20.3) Once officials knew their inaction was on record and they could be named and held responsible, the cost of ignoring Nannu rose sharply — so they acted within a week and even became eager to please. This shows that the citizen’s legal right to information makes the administration answerable and responsive, transferring power from the officials to the ordinary citizen.
4Q21.
In democratic countries such as South Africa and Brazil, the top 20% of people take away more than 60% of the national income, leaving less than 3% for the bottom 20%. Countries like Denmark and Hungary are far more equal. Democracies are based on political equality — one person, one vote — yet economic inequalities often grow alongside it.
(21.1) What kind of equality does ‘one person, one vote’ guarantee? (1)
(21.2) Name one country from the source with relatively low income inequality. (1)
(21.3) ‘Political equality does not automatically produce economic equality.’ Justify using the source. (2)
Show answer
(21.1) Political equality (each citizen’s vote has equal weight). (21.2) Denmark (or Hungary). (21.3) Despite every citizen having an equal vote, the data show the richest 20% taking over 60% of income in South Africa and Brazil while the poorest 20% get under 3%. So equal political power has not translated into an equal share of wealth — confirming that democracies grant political equality but do not, by themselves, deliver economic equality; that requires deliberate policy.
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