Class 10 Civics Chapter 4 Previous Year Questions - Political Parties

Ans: (a) Only I, II, and III are correct.
Explanation:

• Leaders: Political parties are led by individuals who make strategic decisions, formulate policies, and represent the party in public and governmental forums.
• Active Members: These are individuals who participate actively in party activities, such as campaigning, organizing events, and implementing party decisions.
• Followers: These include supporters and voters who align with the party’s ideology and vote for it during elections, forming the party’s base.
• Pressure Groups: These are distinct entities that aim to influence government policies without seeking political power themselves. They are not components of a political party but external entities that may interact with parties.

Thus, only Leaders, Active Members, and Followers (I, II, III) are the main components of a political party.

Ans: Political parties are essential for the functioning of a democracy as they facilitate representation, governance, and public participation.
Explanation:

• Representation of Diverse Interests: Political parties aggregate various societal views and present them to the government, ensuring that diverse groups have a voice in policymaking.
• Formation of Government: They bring together representatives to form a responsible government, either by winning a majority or forming coalitions, ensuring stable governance.
• Policy Formulation and Accountability: Parties develop policies and programs, present them to voters, and hold the government accountable by supporting or opposing policies, thus maintaining checks and balances.

Ans: India adopted the multiparty system to accommodate its diverse social, cultural, and political landscape.
Explanation:

• Diverse Society: India’s vast diversity in terms of religion, language, caste, and region necessitates multiple parties to represent varied interests, ensuring inclusivity in the political process.
• Democratic Representation: A multiparty system allows for broader representation of different ideologies and groups, preventing the dominance of a single perspective and fostering democratic pluralism.
• Historical and Political Evolution: India’s freedom struggle and post-independence political developments led to the emergence of multiple parties, reflecting regional and ideological differences, which suited the federal structure.

Ans: Political parties perform critical functions in a democracy, including contesting elections, forming governments, and shaping public opinion.
Explanation:

• Contesting Elections: Parties nominate candidates to contest elections, providing voters with choices based on different ideologies and programs.
• Forming and Running Government: Winning parties form the government, implement policies, and govern, while opposition parties hold the government accountable.
• Shaping Public Opinion: Through campaigns, rallies, and media, parties educate citizens about issues, mobilize support, and influence public opinion on key matters.

Ans: Political parties in India face challenges such as lack of internal democracy, dynastic succession, and money and muscle power.
Explanation:

• Lack of Internal Democracy: Many parties lack transparent processes for decision-making, with power concentrated among a few leaders, limiting opportunities for ordinary members.
• Dynastic Succession: Leadership in many parties is often inherited within families, discouraging merit-based leadership and reducing democratic participation within parties.
• Money and Muscle Power: The increasing role of money and criminal elements in elections undermines fair competition, as parties rely on financial influence and coercion to win votes.

Ans: (c) Only I, III, and IV are correct.
Explanation:

• I. Filing Income Tax Returns: Political parties are required to file income tax returns to ensure transparency in their financial dealings, as mandated by the Income Tax Act.
• II. One-Third Women Candidates: This is not mandatory for political parties in India. While there have been discussions about women’s reservation in legislatures, no such rule exists for party candidate selection.
• III. Organizational Elections: The Election Commission mandates that recognized political parties hold regular organizational elections to maintain democratic functioning within the party.
• IV. Disclosure of Criminal Cases: Candidates are required to submit affidavits disclosing pending criminal cases, as per Supreme Court and Election Commission guidelines, to ensure transparency.

Thus, I, III, and IV are correct reforms.

Ans: The multiparty system in India is characterized by diversity, coalition governments, and regional representation.
Explanation:

• Diversity of Representation: Multiple parties represent diverse social, cultural, and regional interests, ensuring that various groups have a voice in governance.
• Coalition Governments: The multiparty system often leads to coalition governments, where parties collaborate to form a stable government, promoting consensus-building.
• Regional Influence: Regional parties play a significant role, addressing local issues and strengthening federalism by balancing national and regional priorities.

Ans: (b) Only I, III, and IV are correct.
Explanation:

• I. Making Laws: Political parties, through their elected representatives, play a key role in drafting and passing legislation in Parliament and state assemblies.
• II. Making Interest Groups: This is incorrect, as interest groups (e.g., trade unions, pressure groups) form independently to influence policies, not as a direct role of political parties.
• III. Shaping Public Opinion: Parties use campaigns, media, and public meetings to educate and influence citizens on political issues and policies.
• IV. Policies and Programs: Parties propose policies and programs during elections, presenting voters with choices based on their vision for governance.

Thus, I, III, and IV are correct.

Ans: Representative democracy is a system where citizens elect representatives to make decisions and govern on their behalf.
Explanation:

• Citizens vote for representatives who form the government and make laws.
• These representatives are accountable to the public through periodic elections.
• It allows large and complex societies to function efficiently by delegating decision-making to elected officials.

Ans: Political parties shape public opinion by mobilizing citizens, spreading awareness, and promoting their ideologies.

Explanation:

• Campaigns and Rallies: Parties organize public meetings and campaigns to educate voters about their policies and ideologies.
• Media Engagement: They use media platforms to communicate their stance on issues, influencing public perceptions.
• Grassroots Mobilization: Active members engage with communities to build support and shape opinions on key issues.

Ans: Political parties are necessary for democracy because they facilitate representation, governance, and accountability.
Explanation:

• Representation of Diverse Views: Parties aggregate varied societal interests and present them to the government, ensuring inclusivity.
• Formation of Government: They provide a mechanism to form stable governments by bringing representatives together under a common platform.
• Accountability and Opposition: Parties in opposition scrutinize the government, propose alternative policies, and ensure checks and balances, strengthening democratic governance.

Ans: (C) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
Explanation:

• Assertion (A): Every political party in India must register with the Election Commission of India under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, to participate in elections. This is true.
• Reason (R): The Election Commission, not the Government, assigns election symbols to political parties to ensure fair elections. Thus, the statement that the Government provides symbols is false.
• Since (A) is true and (R) is false, option (C) is correct.

Ans: (d)
Elections are the primary means by which political parties are held accountable to the public. Voters are able to assess the candidates' performance and decide whether or not to endorse them based on their deeds and statements.

Ans: Functions of Political Parties are: 
(1) They contest election.
(2) They put forward different policies and programmes.
(3) Parties form and run the government.
(4) Parties that lose in the election play the role of opposition.
(5) They shape public opinion.
(6) They provide people access to government machinery and welfare schemes.

Ans: (c)
The United States operates under a two-party system, primarily dominated by the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. This means that most elections are primarily contested between these two parties, making it easier for voters to choose between two distinct options. In contrast, other countries like China and Russia have different political systems, and India has multiple parties, which is known as a multi-party system.

Ans: The merits of a multi-party system include:

• Diverse representation: It allows various interests and opinions to participate in politics.
• Inclusivity: In a diverse country, this system addresses the needs of different sections of society.

Ans: The need of political parties in a democracy are as follows: 
(1) Parties contest elections. In most democracies, elections are fought mainly among the candidates put up by political parties. 
(2) Parties play a decisive role in making laws for a country. They mould public opinion. 
(3) Parties provide people access to government machinery and welfare schemes implemented by governments.

Ans: The ruling party is the political party that wins elections and forms the government. It is responsible for making and implementing policies.

In contrast, the opposition party consists of those parties that do not achieve a majority in the elections. Their role includes:

• Critiquing the government's decisions and policies.
• Voicing alternative views and concerns.
• Mobilising public opinion against the ruling party.

Ans: India has adopted a multi-party system due to its vast social and geographical diversity. This system allows for a range of interests and opinions to be represented in politics. 
Key reasons include:

• The large population and varied cultures make it difficult for just one or two parties to represent everyone.
• A multi-party system encourages political representation for different groups.
• It allows for the formation of alliances among parties, which can lead to more stable governance.

Overall, this system reflects the complex nature of Indian society and ensures that multiple voices are heard in the political arena.

Ans: Political parties shape public opinion in the following ways:

• Highlighting issues: They raise awareness about various social and political issues.
• Membership influence: With a large number of members across the country, parties often form pressure groups that represent different societal sections, helping to shape public views.
• Launching movements: Parties sometimes initiate movements to address problems faced by the public.
• Access to government: They provide citizens easier access to government services and welfare schemes, making it simpler to approach local party leaders than government officials.

Ans: The rise of political parties is closely linked to the development of representative democracies. As societies grow and become more complex, they require effective governance. 
Here are key points illustrating this connection:

• Political parties serve as a foundation for representative government.
• They collect and express public opinions on important issues.
• Parties unite various representatives, enabling them to support or challenge the government.
• They help formulate policies and communicate these to the public, based on their political ideologies.
• These functions are essential for the healthy functioning of representative democracies.

Thus, political parties are vital for the establishment and maintenance of a representative democratic system.

Ans: Three features of one party system are as follows: 
(i) Only one party is allowed to control and rule the government. There is no change of government and power is concentrated in the hands of the party leader.
(ii) In this system electoral politics does not permit free competition for power.
(iii) There is absence of the checks and balances provided by democratic government.

Ans: We need political parties because of the functions that the political parties perform:
(i) They contest in elections.
(ii) They put forward different policies and programme for the betterment of society.
(iii) They play a decisive role in the making of laws that affect each of us.
(iv) They form and run the government.
(v) They play the role of opposition to the ruling party.
(vi) They shape public opinion, as they raise and highlight issues.
(vii) They provide people access to government machinery and welfare schemes implemented by the government.

Ans: Indian democracy has a multi-party system, political parties perform a series of functions to strengthen our democracy in the following manners:
(i) Contesting elections : Political parties contest elections; A political party nominates its candidate for the electoral contest in various constituencies. This provides a variety of choice of personalities for the people to vote for.
(ii) Policies : Political parties put forward different policies and programmes so that the voters can choose from amongst them. A political party brings a large number of similar opinions under one umbrella. These opinions are channelised to form policies and programmes. The policies and programmes of the ruling party generally become the government policies.
(iii) Making law : Political parties play a decisive role in making laws for the country that benefits the v/hole population.
(iv) Playing opposition : A party which does not get majority or does not come under the majority coalition, needs to play the role of opposition. This forms the basis of checks and balances in a democracy.
(v) Shaping public opinion: Political parties shape public opinion. They do so by raising and highlighting issues in the legislature and in the media.
(vi) Providing access to government machinery: Political parties provide people access to government machinery and welfare schemes implemented by governments. Parties need to be responsive to people’s needs and demands thus bring good governance. 

Political parties are as easily one of the most visible institutions in a democracy. For most ordinary citizens, democracy is equal to political parties.

Ans:  To strengthen political parties in India and enhance their functioning, several reforms have been implemented.
Here are some examples:
(i) Transparency and Accountability: Requiring political parties to disclose their funding sources and expenditures to ensure transparency and accountability. For example, the Election Commission of India has introduced guidelines for parties to submit annual audited reports.
(ii) Internal Democracy: Encouraging parties to adopt internal democratic processes such as holding regular elections for party leadership positions. This promotes inclusivity and fairness within the party structure.
(iii) Anti-defection Law: Implementing the Anti-defection law to prevent elected representatives from switching parties indiscriminately, thus promoting stability and party discipline.
(iv) State Funding of Elections: Providing state funding for elections to reduce the influence of money power and promote a level playing field for all parties, especially smaller ones with limited resources.
(v) Electoral Reforms: Introducing reforms like electronic voting machines (EVMs) to ensure free and fair elections, reducing malpractices and enhancing the credibility of the electoral process.
(vi) Strengthening Election Commission: Empowering the Election Commission to regulate and oversee the conduct of elections impartially, ensuring that parties adhere to the set guidelines and rules.
These reforms aim to strengthen political parties in India, enabling them to fulfill their functions effectively and serve the interests of the public better.

Ans: (a) 
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is recognized as a national party in India because it has a presence in multiple states and follows a unified policy and strategy set at the national level. It meets the criteria laid out by the Election Commission, which includes securing a specific percentage of votes and winning a certain number of seats in elections. In contrast, the other options, like the Samajwadi Party, Shiv Sena, and Shiromani Akali Dal, are primarily focused on specific states and do not have the same national reach.

Ans: (c)
The Indian National Congress (INC) is not a regional party because it operates across the entire country and has units in multiple states. In contrast, the other options like Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Asom Gana Parishad, and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam are regional parties that primarily focus on specific areas or states in India.

Ans: (c)
In India, every political party must register with the Election Commission. This ensures that the party is recognized officially and can participate in elections. The Election Commission regulates the conduct of elections and maintains a fair electoral process in the country.

Ans: (b)
A party is recognized as a National Party in India if it secures at least 6% of the total votes in Lok Sabha elections or Assembly elections in four states and wins at least four seats in the Lok Sabha. This recognition allows the party to have certain privileges, like using a unique election symbol across the country.

Ans: Partisan 

A partisan is someone who is strongly committed to a specific party or group. This commitment often leads to:

• A tendency to take a side on issues.
• An inability to view matters from a balanced perspective.

Partisanship can influence political dynamics, as it reflects loyalty to particular policies and interests.

Ans: Indian democracy operates within a multi-party system, where political parties play essential roles to enhance democratic governance. 
Their functions include:

• Contesting elections: Political parties nominate candidates for elections, providing voters with diverse choices.
• Formulating policies: They present various policies and programmes, allowing voters to select options that reflect their views. This helps consolidate similar opinions into coherent policies.
• Making laws: Political parties are crucial in the legislative process, contributing to laws that benefit the entire population.
• Opposition role: Parties not in the majority serve as the opposition, ensuring checks and balances within the government.
• Shaping public opinion: They influence public discourse by raising important issues in both the legislature and media.
• Access to government: Political parties facilitate citizens' access to government services and welfare schemes, promoting good governance.

Political parties are among the most visible institutions in a democracy. For many citizens, the concept of democracy is closely linked to the presence and actions of political parties.

Ans: Political parties: A political party is a group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in the government. 
Need of Political Parties in India:
(i) The rise of political parties is directly linked to the emergence of representative democracies.
(ii) As societies became large and complex, they also needed some agency to gather different views on various issues and to present these to the government.
(iii) They needed some ways, to bring various representatives together so that a responsible government could be formed.
(iv) They needed a mechanism to support or restrain the government, make policies, justify or oppose them.
(v) Political parties fulfill these needs that every representative government has.

Ans: 

• The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) was established in 1984 under the leadership of Kanshi Ram.
• It aims to represent the interests of the Bahujan Samaj, which includes Dalits, Adivasis, OBCs, and religious minorities.
• The party draws inspiration from leaders such as Sahu Maharaj, Mahatma Phule, Periyar Ramaswami Naicker, and Babasaheb Ambedkar.
• Its focus is on securing the rights and welfare of the oppressed communities.
• The BSP has a strong presence in Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring states like Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

Ans: Political parties can be made more responsive through organised petitions, agitations and publicity by various groups. 
Explanation: This shall make political parties pay more attention to people’s needs to secure their support.

Ans: Following are the ways in which public participation in political parties can be promoted: 
(1) Parties should make their election process more transparent and elect more candidates from among the common people. 
(2) Various platforms like social media can be used to allocate them small responsibilities to maintain their interest in party activities.

Ans: 

The three components of a political party are as follows:

• The Leaders: The leaders are the ones who hold positions of power at various levels in the sphere of politics. They belong to different political parties. The leaders of the ruling party are responsible for the impact of various policies and processes and address issues of the people time and again.
• The Active members: Political parties comprise lakhs of members and political activists across the entire nation. They play an important role in promoting the agenda of the party including a focus on issues and various policies and party leadership.
• The Followers: The followers of a political party are the supporters of the ideas and agenda of that particular political party. They are the citizens of the general public who strongly believe in the ideas and approaches of the party and extend their support to the party, especially during elections.

Note: A political party is a group of people with similar ideologies who come together to form an organization in order to contest elections and hold power in the government.

Ans: India has a multi-party system, where political parties are classified as national, state or regional level parties. All parties are registered with the Election Commission.
The criterion for Recognition by The Election Commission as national or state-level parties.

National Party:
(i) A party that secures at least six per cent of total votes in Lok Sabha elections or Assembly elections in four States and wins at least four seats in the Lok Sabha is recognised as a national part.
(ii) Now, India has seven recognised national parties.
(iii) Indian National Congress, Bhartiya Janta Party.

State Party:
(i) A party that secures at least 6 per cent of the total votes in an election to the Legislative Assembly of a State and wins at least two seats is recognised as a State party.
(ii) There are 54, state recognised parties in India.
(iii) Biju Janta Dal, Mizo National Front

Ans: Two party system: In a democratic system power usually changes between two main parties, several other parties may exists but only the two main parties have a serious chance of winning majority of seats to form government is known as Two Party System.
Advantages: 
(1) Several other parties contest election. 
(2) Clarity of manifestoes and programs. 
Disadvantages: 
(1) Limited choice to the voters. 
(2) Limited representation.

Ans: Political parties play a crucial role in democracies by performing several important functions:

• Contest elections: Political parties field candidates to compete in elections, allowing voters to choose from various options.
• Formulate policies: They present different policies and programmes, helping to group similar opinions and guide government direction.
• Opposition role: Parties that do not win elections serve as the opposition, critiquing the government and highlighting its failures.
• Shape public opinion: Political parties raise and focus on issues that matter to the public, influencing societal views and discussions.
• Access to government: They provide citizens with easier access to government services and welfare schemes, making it simpler for people to voice their concerns.

Ans: Situations which display lack of internal democracy within a political party: 
(1) Parties do not keep membership registers, do not hold organisational meetings, and do not conduct internal elections regularly. 
(2) Ordinary members of the party do not get sufficient information on what happens inside the party. 
(3) They do not have the means or the connections needed to influence the decisions. As a result, the leaders assume greater power to make decisions in the name of the party. 
(4) Since one or few leaders exercise paramount power in the party, those who disagree with the leadership find it difficult to continue in the party. 
(5) More than loyalty to party principles and policies, personal loyalty to the leader becomes more important.

Ans: The Election Commission of India is responsible for the task of recognizing political parties in India. Every party in India has to register with the Election Commission and it also lays down detailed criteria for state as well as national level parties to qualify as a particular 'party.'

Ans: Two Regional Political Parties of UP:

• Samajwadi Party (S.P.)
• Rashtriya Lok Dal (R.L.D.)

Ans: Importance of Political Parties:

• Parties contest elections to form a government.
• Parties put forward different policies and programmes and the voters choose from them.
• A party reduces a vast multitude of opinions into a few basic positions which it supports.
• Parties play a decisive role in making laws for a country.
• Parties recruit leaders, trains them and then make them ministers to run the Government.
• Parties provide people access to government machinery and welfare schemes implemented by governments.

Ans: Political parties are a necessary condition for a democracy: If political parties don't exist then:

• Every candidate in the elections will be independent.
• No one will be able to make any promise to the people about any major policy changes. 
• The government may be formed, but its utility will remain ever uncertain.
• Elected representatives will be accountable to their constituency for what they do in the locality.
• No one will be responsible for how the country will be run.
• Political parties are important for representative democracies as they bring representatives together to form the government.
• It consists of people seeking to achieve their objectives through constitutional means and aims at promoting national interest.

Ans: India adopted multi-party system because

• It strengthens democracy.
• India is geographically a very large country.
• India is socially a very diverse country.
• India is culturally and religiously a diverse country.
• All these diversities can be accommodated if there is a multi-party system and just 1 party or 2 party system will not help in more representation and participation of people in democratic processes.

Ans:

• The Constitution was amended to prevent elected MLAs and MPs from changing parties. This was done because many elected representatives were indulging in DEFECTION in order to become ministers or for cash rewards. Now, if any MLA or MP changes parties, he or she will lose the seat in the legislature. 
• The Supreme Court passed an order to reduce the influence of money and criminals. Now, it is mandatory for every candidate who contests elections to file an AFFIDAVIT giving details of his property and criminal cases pending against him. The new system has made a lot of information available to the public. But there is no system of check if the information given by the candidates is true. 
• The Election Commission passed an order making it necessary for political parties to hold their organisational elections and file their income tax; returns. The parties have started doing so but sometimes it is a mere formality. It is not clear if this step has led to greater internal democracy in political parties.

Ans: Recent efforts to reform political parties and their leaders are as given below:

• Anti-defection law: In India, many elected representatives started indulging in changing party allegiance from the party to which a person had got elected to a different party in order to become ministers or for cash rewards. So in order to curb this tendency, anti-defection law was passed. According to it, if any MLA or MP changes parties, he or she will lose the seat in the legislature. Now MPs and MLAs have to obey the decisions of the party.
• Filing of an affidavit: The Supreme Court has made it mandatory for every candidate who contests an election to file an affidavit giving details of his property and criminal cases pending against him. This has been done to reduce the influence of money and criminals.
• Hold organisational elections: The Election Commission has made it necessary for political parties to hold their organisational elections and file their income tax returns.

Ans: The growing role of money and muscle power in political parties can be controlled in the following ways: 
(1) There should be state funding of elections. 
(2) Rath yatras, rallies and processions should be banned. 
(3) All types of elections should be held at the same time. 
(4) It should be mandatory for every candidate contesting elections to file an affidavit giving details of his/her property and criminal cases pending against him/her, if any. 
(5) Political parties should hold their organisational elections and file their income tax returns

Ans: Recent efforts made to reform political parties in India are: 
(1) Anti-defection law has been introduced, under which a member can be disqualified if he/she goes against the instructions issued by the party for monetary benefits. 
(2) To reduce the influence of money and muscle power in the parties, funding of political parties has been made transparent and democratic. Funds can only be accepted if complete documentation has been attached and miscreants are likely to be punished. 
(3) It is mandatory for any candidate to file an affidavit giving details of his property and cases pending against him/her before nomination.

Ans: A one-party system is not seen as a good democratic system for several reasons:

• It limits political competition, preventing alternative viewpoints.
• There is a lack of accountability and transparency in governance.
• Healthy democracies require multiple parties to foster debate and represent diverse interests.

In contrast, systems with multiple parties encourage a broader range of opinions and choices.

Ans: Samajwadi Party, Samata Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal

Ans: The alliance formed by the Congress Party is known as the United Progressive Alliance (UPA).

Ans: The principal opposition party in the Lok Sabha in 2004 was the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Ans: The components of a political party include:

• Leaders: They create the party's policies and select candidates for elections.
• Active members: These individuals engage in various party committees and participate in activities.
• Followers: Supporters who believe in the party's ideology and vote for it during elections.

Ans: State parties like the Samajwadi Party, Samata party and Rashtriya Janata Dal have National level political organisations with units in several States but are not recognised as national parties.

Ans: The one-party political system is not considered a good democratic system for several reasons:

• It lacks democratic choice, as there is no competition for power.
• Democracy requires at least two parties to compete in elections.
• In a healthy democracy, multiple parties should have a fair chance to gain power.
• Countries like the United States and the United Kingdom exemplify a two-party system.
• A multiparty system, like in India, allows several parties to compete for power.
• In a one-party system, such as in China, only one party controls the government, limiting political freedom.

Ans: National Political Party has units in the various states, they follow the same policies, programmes and strategy that is decided at the national level.
Conditions required:
(i) A party that secures at least 6% of the total votes in general elections of Lok Sabha or assembly elections in four states.
(ii) Wins at least 4 seats in Lok Sabha.

Ans: State parties seeking National level coalition: Before the general election of 2014, in three general elections, no one national party was able to secure on its own a majority in Lok Sabha. As a result, the national parties were compelled to form alliances with state or regional parties. Since 1996, nearly every one of the state parties has got an opportunity to be a part of one or the other national-level coalition government. This has contributed to the strengthening of federalism and democracy.

Ans: A regional Party is a party that is present only in some states. Conditions required for a party to be recognised as a regional political party are:

• Regional political party (or state party) is a party that has its presence only in one or some states.
• The regional parties may not always be regional in their ideology or outlook. Examples of some regional parties with units in several states include Samajwadi Party, Samata Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal etc. Parties such as Biju Janata Dal or Mizo National Front are conscious about their state identity.
• According to the criteria laid down by the Election Commission, a party that secures at least six per cent of the total votes in an election to the legislative assembly of a state and wins at least two seats is recognized as a state party.

Ans: A political party is a group of individuals who unite to contest elections and gain power in the government. They share common policies and programmes aimed at promoting the collective good of society.

The ideology of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) includes:

• Full territorial and political integration of Jammu and Kashmir with India.
• A uniform civil code for all citizens, regardless of religion.
• Emphasis on cultural nationalism.

Ans: India has adopted a multi-party systemdue to its vast size and diverse society. 
Here are key reasons:

• Social Diversity: India is home to various cultures, languages, and religions, making it challenging for just two or three parties to represent all interests.
• Geographical Diversity: The country's varied geography contributes to different regional issues, necessitating multiple parties to address these effectively.
• Political Representation: A multi-party system allows for a broader range of opinions and interests to be represented in government.

This system can lead to coalitions where parties join forces to form a government, reflecting the complex political landscape of India.

Ans: Popular dissatisfaction and criticism: It has focused on four areas in the working of political parties, need to face and overcome these challenges in order to remain effective instruments of democracy. Lack of internal democracy within parties.

• Dynastic succession: Since most political parties do not practice open transparent procedures for their functioning, there are very few ways for an ordinary worker to rise to the top in a party. Those who happen to be leaders are in a position of unfair advantage to favour people close to them or even their family member.
• The growing role of money and muscle power in parties: Since parties are focused only on mining elections, they land to use shortcuts to win elections. They feed to nominate those considers who have or can raise a lot of mercy. Rich people and companies who give funds to the parties tend to have an influence on the policies and decisions of the party. In some cases, parties support climates that can win an election.
• There is not a meaningful choice to the voters: In recent years there has been a decline in the ideological parties of the world. Sometimes different leaders either because shifting from one party to another.

Ans:

• A law should be made to regulate the internal affairs of political parties. It should be made compulsory for political parties to maintain a register of its members, to follow its own constitution, to act as a judge in case of party disputes and to hold open elections to the highest post."
• It should be made mandatory for political parties to give a minimum number of tickets, about one-third to the women candidates. 
• There should be state funding for elections. The government should give parties money to support their election expenses. This support can be given in a way like; petrol, paper, telephone, etc. Or, it could be given in cash on the basis of votes, secured by the party in the last elections. It should be mandatory to hold their organisational elections. 
• People can put pressure on political parties through petitions, publicity and agitation. 
• Parties should reduce the influence of money and criminals. 
• The parties should select candidates for contesting elections who have a good record.

Ans: Political parties are a necessary condition for democracy.

• Without political parties, democracies cannot exist.
• If we do not have political parties - in such a situation every candidate in elections will be independent.
• No one will be able to make any promises to the people about any major policy changes.
• The rise of political parties is directly linked to the emergence of representative democracies. As we have seen, large societies need representative democracy.
• The government may be formed but its utility will remain uncertain. They needed some ways to bring various representatives together so that a responsible government could be formed.
• They needed some mechanisms to support or restrain the government, make policies, justify or oppose them.
• Elected representatives will be accountable to their constituency for what they do in their locality.
• Political parties play a decisive role in making laws for a country. Formally laws are debated and passed in the legislature in which the ruling party plays a major role.
• Parties form and run governments. Parties recruit leaders, train them and then make them ministers to run the government in the way they want.
• Those parties that lose in the elections play the role of opposition to the parties in power, by voicing different views and criticising for its failure or wrong policies.
• Parties shape public opinions. They raise and highlight issues. Parties have lakhs of members and activists spread all over the country. Parties sometimes also launch movements for the resolution of problems faced by people.
• But no one will be responsible for how the country will run.
• The role of the opposition party in a democracy necessitates the existence of political parties,
• As societies become large and complex, they also needed some agencies to gather different views on various issues and to present these to the government, that is why political parties are needed.

Ans:

• All over the world, there is a tendency of political parties towards the concentration of power in one or few leaders at the top. 
• Parties do not keep membership register. 
• They do not regularly hold organisational meetings. 
• They do not conduct internal elections regularly. 
• Ordinary members of the party do not have sufficient information as to what happens inside the party. 
• As a result, the leaders assume greater power to make decisions in the name of the party.

Ans: Multi-party system: A multi-party system exists when several political parties compete for power, and more than two parties have a realistic chance of winning either independently or through alliances.

Reasons for India's multi-party system:

• Each country develops a party system based on its unique circumstances.
• India's vast social and geographical diversity cannot be effectively represented by just two or three parties.

Ans: Parties follow different ideologies and people who support these ideologies passionately are its supporters. These supporters work hard to prove that their political party and its ideology is the only correct and ideal approach towards development of the country. In this process, they become staunch supporters of their parties which is called being a partisan.

Ans: Functions of Political Parties are: 
(1) They contest election. 
(2) They put forward different policies and programmes. 
(3) Parties form and run the government

Ans: The “Regional political parties” that are predominant in Jharkhand, Maharashtra and in Odisha respectively with their symbols are:

Ans: Indian National Congress (INC) espouses secularism and welfare of weaker sections and minorities. Four features of the party are as follows:

• Commitment to Secularism: The party promotes harmony among different religions and ensures equality irrespective of religious or cultural differences.

• Focus on Welfare of Weaker Sections: The INC advocates for policies aimed at uplifting marginalized groups, such as Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and minorities, through reservations, scholarships, and welfare schemes.

• Support for Economic Reforms with Social Justice: The party supports liberalization and privatization while balancing the interests of weaker sections through programs aimed at poverty alleviation and rural development.

• Advocacy of Democratic Values: The INC emphasizes democratic principles, striving for a fair and inclusive political environment within its party framework and in governance.