Test: Power-sharing (Medium) - Class 10 MCQ

The situations in Belgium and Sri Lanka primarily highlight the challenges and complexities arising from cultural and ethnic diversity, emphasizing the significance of power-sharing and managing differences within diverse populations to maintain harmony and stability.

Belgium has borders with France, the Netherlands, Germany, and Luxembourg, making it a geographically strategic location in Europe.

• Option A: (a) Sinhala-speaking people - Muslims
  Explanation: This option is incorrect. The majority of Sinhala-speaking people in Sri Lanka are Buddhists, not Muslims. Most Muslims in Sri Lanka are Tamil-speaking.
• Option B: (b) Flemish region- Dutch-speaking  
• Correct: The Flemish region in Belgium has a majority of Dutch-speaking people, comprising 59% of the country's total population.
• Option C: (c) Wallonia region- German-speaking
  Incorrect: The Wallonia region in Belgium is primarily French-speaking, not German-speaking. Only 1% of the Belgian population speaks German, and they are not concentrated in the Wallonia region.
• Option D: (d) Brussels- Tamil-speaking  
  Incorrect: Brussels is the capital city of Belgium, where 80% of the people speak French and 20% speak Dutch. It has no significant Tamil-speaking population, as Sri Lankan Tamils are concentrated in the north and east of Sri Lanka.
• Therefore, the correctly matched pair is Option B: (b) Flemish region - Dutch-speaking.

• (i) The Dutch-speaking community in Belgium forms a majority in the country but a minority in Brussels. This is true as 59% of the population in Belgium speaks Dutch, while in Brussels, 80% speak French and only 20% speak Dutch.
• (ii) The French-speaking community in Belgium is relatively richer and more powerful than the Dutch-speaking community. This is accurate as historically, the French-speaking community was wealthier and more influential, leading to tensions.
• (iv) The Tamil-speaking community in Sri Lanka is divided into Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian Tamils. This is correct as the Tamils in Sri Lanka are divided into these two sub-groups, with Sri Lankan Tamils being native to the country and Indian Tamils being descendants of plantation workers brought during the colonial period.
• Statement (iii) is incorrect because the Sinhala-speaking community is not a minority; they form the majority (74%) in Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lankan government's decision to pass an Act in 1956 recognizing Sinhala as the only official language disregarded Tamil, contributing significantly to the alienation felt by the Sri Lankan Tamils, as it marginalized their language and cultural interests.

The Belgian model mandates that the number of Dutch and French-speaking ministers must be equal in the central government. This balanced representation prevents any one community from making decisions independently, fostering cooperation and inclusivity.

• Option A: (a) Federal Government - Provincial Government: - Explanation: This pair is incorrect because a Federal Government usually refers to the central government of a country, while a provincial government is a regional authority. They are not a pair but rather different levels of government.
• Option B: (b) State Government - Central Government: - Explanation: This pair is incorrect because the State Government and Central Government are distinct entities within a federal system, not a matched pair.
• Option C: (c) Vertical Division of Power - State and Local Governments: - Explanation: This pair is correct. Vertical Division of Power refers to the distribution of power among different levels of government, such as the central government, state governments, and local governments (municipalities and panchayats). This matches the concept correctly.
• Option D: (d) Democracy - Centralized Power: - Explanation: This pair is incorrect because democracy involves the dispersion of power among various institutions and levels of government, rather than the centralization of power in one person or group.

When two or more political parties form an alliance to contest elections, they engage in coalition sharing of power. This form of power sharing is a common practice in democracies where parties come together to collectively govern, reflecting a collaborative approach to governance.

• The Assertion is correct. Power sharing does manifest in political parties, pressure groups, and movements influencing those in power. This aligns with the democratic principle where citizens should have the freedom to choose among different contenders for power, as stated in the Reason.
• Therefore, Option A is the correct answer as both the Assertion and Reason are true, and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.

• Option A: (a) Community government in Belgium - Power shared among different political parties - This is incorrect. Community government in Belgium is an example of power sharing among different social groups, such as religious and linguistic groups, not political parties.
• Option B: (b) Reserved constituencies in India - Representation of socially weaker sections - This is correct. Reserved constituencies in India are designed to ensure representation of socially weaker sections in legislatures and administration.
• Option C: (c) Coalition government - Power shared among religious and linguistic groups - This is incorrect. A coalition government is formed when two or more political parties form an alliance to contest elections and share power, not specifically among religious and linguistic groups.
• Option D: (d) Pressure groups - Forming an alliance to contest elections - This is incorrect. Pressure groups influence those in power through participation in governmental committees or influencing the decision-making process, rather than forming alliances to contest elections. Therefore, the correctly matched pair is Option B: Reserved constituencies in India - Representation of socially weaker sections.