| name | political-science |
| description | CBSE Grade 10 Political Science — Democratic Politics II. Covers Power Sharing, Federalism, Political Parties, and Democracy. Activate for civics concepts and board exam preparation. |
Political Science — CBSE Grade 10 Social Science
Syllabus Coverage (2026–27)
Book: Democratic Politics – II
| Chapter | Topic | Marks (out of 20) |
|---|
| Ch 1 | Power Sharing | ~3-4 |
| Ch 2 | Federalism | ~4-5 |
| Ch 3 | Gender, Religion and Caste | ~3-4 |
| Ch 4 | Political Parties | ~4-5 |
| Ch 5 | Outcomes of Democracy | ~3-4 |
| Total | 5 Chapters | 20 |
Chapter 1: Power Sharing
Key Concepts
- Belgium model: population — 59% Dutch, 40% French, 1% German
- Community government, equal representation in central government
- Brussels: equal French and Dutch representation
- Sri Lanka model: 74% Sinhalese, 18% Tamil
- Majoritarianism: Sinhala Only Act (1956), state religion Buddhism
- Led to civil war (1983-2009)
- Why power sharing?: prudential (reduces conflict) + moral (people have right to participate)
Forms of Power Sharing
- Horizontal: Legislature, Executive, Judiciary (checks and balances)
- Vertical: Central, State, Local governments (federalism)
- Among social groups: community government (Belgium), reserved constituencies
- Among political parties: coalition government, opposition, pressure groups
Key Comparison
| Feature | Belgium | Sri Lanka |
|---|
| Approach | Accommodation | Majoritarianism |
| Result | Peace, unity | Civil war |
| Language policy | Equal recognition | Sinhala Only |
| Government | Federal, community-based | Unitary, Sinhalese-dominated |
Chapter 2: Federalism
Key Concepts
- Federalism: power divided between central and state governments by Constitution
- Unitary vs Federal:
| Feature | Unitary | Federal |
|---|
| Power | Central government supreme | Division of power |
| Constitution | Can be changed by central govt | Written, rigid |
| Judiciary | Not necessarily independent | Independent |
| Example | UK, France | India, USA, Australia |
Key Facts
SCHEDULE 7: Contains Union, State, Concurrent lists
Article 1: India is a "Union of States"
73rd Amendment (1992): Rural local bodies (Panchayati Raj)
74th Amendment (1992): Urban local bodies
Number of states: 28 + 8 Union Territories
Languages in 8th Schedule: 22 official languages
Chapter 3: Gender, Religion and Caste
Key Concepts
Key Differences
COMMUNALISM vs SECULARISM:
Communalism: religion used for political mobilization
Secularism: separation of religion from politics
CASTEISM vs SOCIAL JUSTICE:
Negative: vote banks, caste-based violence
Positive: reservation, social upliftment of marginalized
Chapter 4: Political Parties
Key Concepts
- Political party: group with common objectives seeking political power through elections
- Functions: contest elections, form policies, make laws, shape public opinion, provide opposition
- Types:
- National parties: recognized in 4+ states or 6%+ votes in 4 states in Lok Sabha
- State/Regional parties: recognized in fewer states
National Parties (MUST memorize)
| Party | Symbol | Founded | Ideology |
|---|
| BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) | Lotus | 1980 | Cultural nationalism, Hindutva |
| INC (Indian National Congress) | Hand | 1885 | Secular, liberal, centrist |
| BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party) | Elephant | 1984 | Dalit rights, social justice |
| CPI-M (Communist Party - Marxist) | Hammer, Sickle & Star | 1964 | Marxist-Leninist, left |
| CPI (Communist Party of India) | Ears of Corn & Sickle | 1925 | Marxist, democratic socialism |
| NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) | Clock | 1999 | Secularism, federalism |
| AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) | Broom | 2012 | Anti-corruption, grassroots democracy |
Challenges to Political Parties
- Lack of internal democracy (dynasty politics)
- Money and muscle power in elections
- Meaningful choice not offered to voters
- Growing role of hereditary succession
- Criminalization of politics
Reforms Suggested
- Anti-defection law (10th Schedule)
- Right to Information Act (RTI, 2005)
- Affidavit system for candidates (declaring assets, criminal record)
- State funding of elections
- Internal democracy within parties
Chapter 5: Outcomes of Democracy
Key Concepts
- Is democracy more accountable? Yes — free press, opposition, judiciary check government
- Is democracy more efficient? Not always faster, but decisions are more legitimate (deliberation takes time)
- Economic outcomes: democracies show slightly lower growth than dictatorships but more equitable
- Inequality and poverty: democracy alone doesn't reduce inequality — needs active policies
- Accommodation of diversity: democracy best handles social diversities and prevents tyranny of majority
- Dignity and freedom: democracy provides dignity to women, marginalized, minorities
Key Comparison
DEMOCRACY vs DICTATORSHIP:
Democracy:
✓ Accountable government
✓ Responsive to people
✓ Reduces inequality over time
✓ Accommodates diversity
✓ Dignity and freedom
✗ Slower decision-making
✗ Corruption possible
Dictatorship:
✓ Faster decisions
✓ Can show quick economic growth
✗ No accountability
✗ Suppresses dissent
✗ No dignity for citizens
✗ Leads to conflict
High-Yield Topics (495+ Strategy)
- Federalism — Highest weightage; lists, decentralization, Panchayati Raj
- Political Parties — National parties table, challenges, reforms
- Power Sharing — Belgium vs Sri Lanka comparison
- Outcomes of Democracy — Evaluation of democracy's performance
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Not writing Constitutional articles when relevant (Art 1, Art 25-28)
- Confusing Union List with State List
- Not mentioning amendment numbers (73rd, 74th)
- Writing opinions without constitutional backing
- Forgetting that India is a "Union of States" not "Federation of States"
Answer Writing Framework for Political Science
- Use Constitutional terminology: "Article 1 states...", "73rd Amendment provides..."
- Compare and contrast: always use table format when comparing (Belgium vs Sri Lanka)
- Balanced arguments: present both sides for "Evaluate" questions
- Give examples: use real Indian examples (election data, party names, leader names)
- For reform questions: list problems FIRST, then suggest reforms
