Important Questions (2 Marks): Power-sharing - Class 10 MCQ

The Sinhala Only Bill was passed in 1956 by the Government of Ceylon.

Power-sharing helps to reduce the conflict between different groups.

Reasons for power-sharing are coalition government, decentralization of powers and for protection of minorities in the country.

Dutch and French are major communities in Belgium.

59% of the Belgium population speaks Dutch.

1% of the Belgium population speaks German.

Rest of them speak French.

                       Explanation:

 British Colonial Rule: Sri Lanka was under British colonial rule for nearly 150 years, starting in 1815.

Struggle for Independence: The movement for independence in Sri Lanka gained momentum in the early 20th century, led by prominent figures such as D.S. Senanayake and Ponnambalam Arunachalam.

Independence Granted: After years of peaceful negotiations and political activism, Sri Lanka finally achieved independence from British rule on February 4, 1948.

Post-Independence: Following independence, D.S. Senanayake became the first Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, leading the country into a new era of self-governance.

Therefore, the correct answer is option A: 1948.

Belgium has borders with France, the Netherlands, Germany, and Luxembourg.

• Option A: Sri Lankan Tamil - Majority in Sri Lanka: This is incorrect. The Sri Lankan Tamils are a minority in Sri Lanka, comprising about 13% of the population.
• Option B: Sinhalese - Majority in Sri Lanka: This is correct. The Sinhalese make up 74% of the population in Sri Lanka and are the majority community.
• Option C: Dutch-speaking - Majority in Wallonia: This is incorrect. The Dutch-speaking community is the majority in the Flemish region, not in Wallonia.
• Option D: French-speaking - Majority in Flemish region: This is incorrect. The French-speaking community is the majority in the Wallonia region, not in the Flemish region.

Therefore, the correctly matched pair is Option B: (b) Sinhalese - Majority in Sri Lanka.

The Belgian model emphasizes power-sharing among linguistic groups, ensuring equal representation and decision-making to avoid unilateral dominance, fostering unity and cooperation.

The Belgian model is based on power-sharing, where arrangements were made to enable everyone to live together within the same country by ensuring equal representation and decision-making among linguistic groups.

Let's analyze both the Assertion (A) and the Reason (R):

Assertion (A): Majoritarianism is a belief that the majority community should be able to rule a country in whichever way it wants, by disregarding the wishes and needs of the minority.

• This statement is true. Majoritarianism is indeed the belief that the majority community has the right to make decisions and govern in a way that may disregard the interests of minority groups.

Reason (R): Power-sharing ensures that all communities have a say in the decision-making process, preventing the dominance of one community over others.

• This statement is also true. Power-sharing is a mechanism that ensures all groups, including minorities, have a role in governance, thus preventing any one group from dominating.

Relationship Between Assertion and Reason:

The Reason explains a different concept (power-sharing) that is contrary to Majoritarianism. While both statements are true, the Reason does not explain why Majoritarianism occurs or what it entails. Instead, it describes a solution to the problem posed by Majoritarianism.

Therefore, the correct answer is:

3. If both Assertion and Reason are true but Reason is not the correct explanation of Assertion

• Power sharing is highlighted as beneficial for conflict reduction and stability. By distributing power among different social groups, it minimizes the likelihood of conflicts that could lead to violence and political instability.
• This approach helps maintain a stable political order and prevents the tyranny of the majority, which can ultimately undermine national unity.
• Thus, power sharing serves as a mechanism for enhancing conflict resolution and ensuring a more stable governance structure.

• The government in Brussels accepted equal representation in the Community Government, which is elected by people belonging to one language community – Dutch, French, and German-speaking – no matter where they live.
• This government has power regarding cultural, educational, and language-related issues.

• In modern democracies, a common form of power sharing involves distributing power among different organs of government, such as the legislature, executive, and judiciary. This horizontal distribution of power ensures a balance among various institutions, preventing any one organ from exercising unlimited power.

Separation of Powers refers to the distribution of governmental powers among distinct branches to prevent any one branch from gaining too much power and ensure a system of checks and balances.

• The power sharing demonstrated in the scenario where Russia's political parties unite into a coalition falls under power sharing through political parties. This form of sharing involves different parties coming together, often with distinct ideologies, to contest elections or govern collectively.

In Belgium, the system of power sharing involves a vertical division of power where powers are divided between different levels of government, such as the federal, regional, and community governments. This ensures a clear allocation of powers among various governmental bodies.