NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Social Science (Democratic Politics II) Chapter 1: Power Sharing (NCERT 2026–27)

Q: What is Chapter 1 of Class 10 Civics (Democratic Politics II) about?

Chapter 1, Power Sharing, uses the stories of Belgium and Sri Lanka to explain how democracies handle demands for sharing power. It contrasts accommodation with majoritarianism, gives prudential and moral reasons for power sharing, and describes the main forms of power sharing in modern democracies.

These Class 10 Civics Chapter 1 solutions cover Power Sharing from Democratic Politics II, the NCERT textbook for the 2026–27 session. The chapter uses two contrasting stories — Belgium and Sri Lanka — to explain how democracies handle demands for sharing power among different communities. It distinguishes majoritarianism from accommodation, gives both prudential and moral reasons why power sharing is desirable, and sets out the main forms of power sharing in modern democracies. Below you get step-by-step answers to every end-of-chapter Exercise, clear notes on key terms, extra practice, MCQs, Assertion–Reason questions and FAQs.

Class: 10 Subject: Social Science (Civics) Book: Democratic Politics II Chapter: 1 Title: Power Sharing Session: 2026–27

On this page

Chapter overview
Key concepts & terms
“Exercises” — full solutions
Extra practice questions
MCQs & Assertion–Reason
Exam tips & common mistakes
FAQs

Class 10 Civics Chapter 1 – Overview

Chapter 1, Power Sharing, opens the study of democracy in Class 10 by asking how power should be distributed in a society made up of different communities. It compares two countries. In Belgium, the Dutch-speaking, French-speaking and German-speaking communities lived with serious tensions, but between 1970 and 1993 the leaders amended the constitution to share power among communities and regions; this accommodation kept the country united. In Sri Lanka, by contrast, the Sinhala majority imposed its dominance through majoritarian measures — making Sinhala the only official language and favouring Sinhalas in jobs and education — which alienated the Tamils and led to a long civil war. From these stories the chapter draws two sets of reasons for sharing power: prudential reasons (it reduces conflict and ensures stability) and moral reasons (power sharing is the very spirit of democracy). Finally, it describes the common forms of power sharing: horizontal (among organs of government), vertical (among different levels of government), among social groups, and among political parties, pressure groups and movements.

Key Concepts & Terms

Power sharing: the distribution of political power among different organs of government, levels of government, social groups, and political parties or movements, so that no single person or group holds all the power.

Ethnic: a social division based on shared culture. People belonging to the same ethnic group believe in their common descent because of similarities of physical type or of culture or both; they need not always share the same religion or nationality.

Majoritarianism: 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 — as the Sinhala majority did in Sri Lanka.

Accommodation: the path Belgium chose — recognising regional and cultural differences and amending the constitution so that different communities can live together within the same country.

Civil war: a violent conflict between opposing groups within a country that becomes so intense that it appears like a war — as happened in Sri Lanka.

Community government: in Belgium, a government elected by people belonging to one language community (Dutch, French or German-speaking), no matter where they live; it has power over cultural, educational and language-related issues.

Prudential: based on prudence, or on a careful calculation of gains and losses. The prudential reason for power sharing is that it reduces conflict and ensures political stability.

Moral: the moral reason is that power sharing is the very spirit of democracy, since a legitimate government consults those who are affected by its rule.

Horizontal distribution of power: power shared among different organs of government — legislature, executive and judiciary — placed at the same level, with a system of checks and balances.

Vertical division (federal) of power: power shared among governments at different levels — a general (central/union) government and governments at the provincial or state level, and lower levels like municipalities and panchayats.

Coalition government: a government formed when two or more political parties come together (often as an alliance) and share power, as happens when no single party wins a clear majority.

“Exercises” — Full Solutions

All questions below are reproduced verbatim from the NCERT textbook’s end-of-chapter Exercises section. Answers are original, written in exam-ready style.

1. What are the different forms of power sharing in modern democracies? Give an example of each of these.

ANSWER Modern democracies use four main forms of power sharing: (i) Among different organs of government (horizontal distribution): power is shared among the legislature, executive and judiciary, which are placed at the same level and check one another through a system of checks and balances. Example: in India, the judiciary can review laws made by the legislature, and ministers are answerable to Parliament. (ii) Among governments at different levels (vertical/federal division): power is shared between a general government for the whole country and governments at the provincial, state or local level. Example: in India, power is divided between the Central (Union) Government, the State Governments, and local bodies like municipalities and panchayats. (iii) Among different social groups: power is shared among religious and linguistic groups so that minorities do not feel alienated. Example: the ‘community government’ in Belgium, and the system of reserved constituencies for weaker sections and women in India’s legislatures. (iv) Among political parties, pressure groups and movements: power is shared as parties compete for power and pressure groups and interest groups influence those in power. Example: two or more parties forming an alliance to contest elections and then running a coalition government, and trade or business interest groups influencing government decisions.

2. State one prudential reason and one moral reason for power sharing with an example from the Indian context.

ANSWER Prudential reason: power sharing is good because it reduces the possibility of conflict between social groups and ensures the stability of the political order. Since social conflict often leads to violence and political instability, sharing power is a wise, practical choice. Indian example: India shares power between the Union and the State Governments and gives recognition to many languages and communities; this keeps a vast, diverse country united and stable instead of breaking up over linguistic or regional demands. Moral reason: power sharing is the very spirit of democracy. A legitimate government is one in which citizens, through participation, acquire a stake in the system, and people have a right to be consulted on how they are governed. Indian example: in India, decisions are taken at the level of panchayats and municipalities so that ordinary people can participate in their own governance, which reflects the moral value of power sharing.

3. After reading this chapter, three students drew different conclusions. Which of these do you agree with and why? Give your reasons in about 50 words.

Thomman – Power sharing is necessary only in societies which have religious, linguistic or ethnic divisions.Mathayi – Power sharing is suitable only for big countries that have regional divisions.Ouseph – Every society needs some form of power sharing even if it is small or does not have social divisions.

ANSWER I agree with Ouseph. Every society needs some form of power sharing, whether or not it is big and whether or not it has social divisions. Even a small and homogeneous society must distribute power among the legislature, executive and judiciary, and among different political parties, so that no single person or group can misuse unlimited power. Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy, while Thomman’s and Mathayi’s views are too narrow.

4. The Mayor of Merchtem, a town near Brussels in Belgium, has defended a ban on speaking French in the town’s schools. He said that the ban would help all non-Dutch speakers integrate in this Flemish town. Do you think that this measure is in keeping with the spirit of Belgium’s power sharing arrangements? Give your reasons in about 50 words.

ANSWER No, this measure is not in keeping with the spirit of Belgium’s power sharing arrangements. Belgium’s model is based on respecting the language and culture of every community and giving them equal status. Banning French denies the French-speaking minority their rights and forces the majority’s will on them. This is a majoritarian, divisive step that goes against the accommodation and mutual respect on which the Belgian model rests.

5. Read the following passage and pick out any one of the prudential reasons for power sharing offered in this.

“We need to give more power to the panchayats to realise the dream of Mahatma Gandhi and the hopes of the makers of our Constitution. Panchayati Raj establishes true democracy. It restores power to the only place where power belongs in a democracy – in the hands of the people. Giving power to Panchayats is also a way to reduce corruption and increase administrative efficiency. When people participate in the planning and implementation of developmental schemes, they would naturally exercise greater control over these schemes. This would eliminate the corrupt middlemen. Thus, Panchayati Raj will strengthen the foundations of our democracy.”

ANSWER A prudential reason offered in the passage is that giving power to panchayats reduces corruption and increases administrative efficiency. Because it is based on a practical calculation of better outcomes — when people participate in planning and implementing development schemes, they control these schemes and eliminate corrupt middlemen — it is a prudential rather than a moral reason.

6. Different arguments are usually put forth in favour of and against power sharing. Identify those which are in favour of power sharing and select the answer using the codes given below? Power sharing:

A. reduces conflict among different communitiesB. decreases the possibility of arbitrarinessC. delays decision making processD. accommodates diversitiesE. increases instability and divisivenessF. promotes people’s participation in governmentG. undermines the unity of a country(a) A B D F (b) A C E F (c) A B D G (d) B C D G

ANSWER The correct answer is (a) A B D F. Arguments A (reduces conflict), B (decreases arbitrariness), D (accommodates diversities) and F (promotes people’s participation) are all in favour of power sharing. The other statements — C (delays decision making), E (increases instability and divisiveness) and G (undermines the unity of a country) — are arguments against power sharing, so they are excluded.

7. Consider the following statements about power sharing arrangements in Belgium and Sri Lanka.

A. In Belgium, the Dutch-speaking majority people tried to impose their domination on the minority French-speaking community.B. In Sri Lanka, the policies of the government sought to ensure the dominance of the Sinhala-speaking majority.C. The Tamils in Sri Lanka demanded a federal arrangement of power sharing to protect their culture, language and equality of opportunity in education and jobs.D. The transformation of Belgium from unitary government to a federal one prevented a possible division of the country on linguistic lines.Which of the statements given above are correct?(a) A, B, C and D (b) A, B and D (c) C and D (d) B, C and D

ANSWER The correct answer is (d) B, C and D. Statement A is incorrect: it was not the Dutch-speaking community but the minority French-speaking community that was relatively rich and powerful, and the Dutch-speaking community resented this; the Dutch did not impose domination. Statements B, C and D are correct — Sri Lankan government policies favoured the Sinhala majority, the Tamils demanded a federal arrangement, and Belgium’s shift to a federal set-up prevented a division on linguistic lines.

8. Match List I (forms of power sharing) with List II (forms of government) and select the correct answer using the codes given below in the lists:

List I	List II
1. Power shared among different organs of government	A. Community government
2. Power shared among governments at different levels	B. Separation of powers
3. Power shared by different social groups	C. Coalition government
4. Power shared by two or more political parties	D. Federal government

1 2 3 4(a) D A B C(b) B C D A(c) B D A C(d) C D A B

ANSWER The correct answer is (c) 1-B, 2-D, 3-A, 4-C. Power shared among different organs of government is the separation of powers (1-B). Power shared among governments at different levels is a federal government (2-D). Power shared by different social groups is seen in the community government of Belgium (3-A). Power shared by two or more political parties forms a coalition government (4-C).

9. Consider the following two statements on power sharing and select the answer using the codes given below:

A. Power sharing is good for democracy.B. It helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups.Which of these statements are true and false?(a) A is true but B is false (b) Both A and B are true (c) Both A and B are false (d) A is false but B is true

ANSWER The correct answer is (b) Both A and B are true. Power sharing is indeed good for democracy (statement A), and one of the main reasons it is good is that it helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups (statement B). Statement B actually explains and supports statement A, so both are true.

Extra Practice Questions

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1. What is meant by ‘ethnic composition’? Describe the ethnic composition of Belgium.

ANSWEREthnic composition means the make-up of a population in terms of social groups based on shared culture. In Belgium, of the total population, 59 per cent live in the Flemish region and speak Dutch, 40 per cent live in the Wallonia region and speak French, and the remaining 1 per cent speak German. In the capital, Brussels, 80 per cent speak French and 20 per cent Dutch.

Q2. Mention any two majoritarian measures adopted by the Sri Lankan government.

ANSWERIn 1956, an Act was passed recognising Sinhala as the only official language, thus disregarding Tamil. The government also followed preferential policies that favoured Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs, and a new constitution declared that the state would protect and foster Buddhism. These measures increased the alienation of the Sri Lankan Tamils.

Q3. What is a ‘community government’ in Belgium?

ANSWERA community government in Belgium is a third kind of government, apart from the Central and State Governments. It is elected by people belonging to one language community — Dutch, French or German-speaking — no matter where they live. This government has power over cultural, educational and language-related issues, helping each community protect its identity.

Q4. Why did the Sri Lankan Tamils feel alienated?

ANSWERThe Sri Lankan Tamils felt alienated because government policies denied them equal political rights, discriminated against them in getting jobs and other opportunities, and ignored their interests. The recognition of Sinhala alone as the official language and the special status given to Buddhism made them feel that no major political party led by Buddhist Sinhala leaders was sensitive to their language and culture.

Q5. What is meant by ‘checks and balances’ in a horizontal distribution of power?

ANSWERIn a horizontal distribution of power, the legislature, executive and judiciary are placed at the same level and exercise different powers. This separation ensures that no organ can use unlimited power, because each organ checks the others — for example, ministers are answerable to Parliament and judges can review the laws made by the legislature. This arrangement is called a system of checks and balances.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q1. Compare the ways in which Belgium and Sri Lanka dealt with the question of power sharing.

ANSWERBoth Belgium and Sri Lanka are democracies, yet they dealt with power sharing very differently. Belgium faced tensions between the Dutch-speaking, French-speaking and German-speaking communities, especially in Brussels where the Dutch were a national majority but a local minority. Its leaders chose the path of accommodation: between 1970 and 1993 they amended the constitution four times to ensure equal numbers of Dutch and French-speaking ministers in the central government, gave many powers to the State Governments of the regions, created equal representation in Brussels, and set up a community government for cultural and language matters. This kept the country united. Sri Lanka took the opposite path of majoritarianism: the Sinhala majority secured dominance by making Sinhala the only official language, favouring Sinhalas in jobs and education, and fostering Buddhism. This alienated the Tamils, their demand for autonomy was repeatedly denied, and the country slid into a civil war that ended only in 2009. Thus, Belgium’s respect for diversity preserved its unity, while Sri Lanka’s refusal to share power undermined it.

Q2. ‘Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy.’ Explain the prudential and moral reasons for power sharing.

ANSWERTwo different sets of reasons are given in favour of power sharing. The first set is prudential, based on a careful calculation of gains and losses. Power sharing is good because it helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups. Since social conflict often leads to violence and political instability, power sharing is a good way to ensure the stability of the political order. Imposing the will of the majority community over others may look attractive in the short run, but in the long run it undermines the unity of the nation, and the tyranny of the majority harms the majority as well. The second set is moral. Power sharing is valuable in itself because it is the very spirit of democracy. A democratic rule involves sharing power with those who are affected by its exercise and who have to live with its effects. People have a right to be consulted on how they are to be governed, and a legitimate government is one in which citizens acquire a stake in the system through participation. Thus, while prudential reasons stress better outcomes, moral reasons emphasise the very act of power sharing as good and right.

Q3. Explain the horizontal and vertical forms of power sharing with examples from India.

ANSWERIn modern democracies, power is shared both horizontally and vertically. In the horizontal distribution of power, power is shared among different organs of government — the legislature, executive and judiciary — that are placed at the same level. This separation ensures that none of the organs can exercise unlimited power; each organ checks the others through a system of checks and balances. In India, ministers and government officials are responsible to Parliament or the State Assemblies, and although judges are appointed by the executive, they can review the functioning of the executive and the laws made by the legislature. In the vertical division of power, power is shared among governments at different levels — a general government for the entire country and governments at the provincial or regional level. In India, this is the federal division between the Central (Union) Government and the State Governments, and the same principle is extended to lower levels such as municipalities and panchayats. The constitution clearly lays down the powers of each level. Together, these two forms ensure that power is not concentrated in one place.

MCQs & Assertion–Reason

1. In Belgium, what percentage of the population lives in the Flemish region and speaks Dutch?

(a) 40% (b) 59% (c) 80% (d) 1%

2. Which language was recognised as the only official language of Sri Lanka by an Act passed in 1956?

(a) Tamil (b) English (c) Sinhala (d) Hindi

3. The belief that the majority community should be able to rule a country in whichever way it wants is called:

(a) accommodation (b) majoritarianism (c) federalism (d) prudence

4. The sharing of power among the legislature, executive and judiciary is called:

(a) vertical division of power (b) horizontal distribution of power (c) community government (d) coalition government

5. The reason that power sharing reduces conflict and ensures stability is a:

(a) moral reason (b) prudential reason (c) cultural reason (d) legal reason

6. Between which years did Belgium amend its constitution four times to work out its power sharing arrangement?

7. The ‘community government’ in Belgium has power over which kind of issues?

(a) defence and foreign affairs (b) cultural, educational and language-related issues (c) taxation only (d) the judiciary

8. Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country in:

9. When two or more parties form an alliance, get elected and share power, the government formed is a:

(a) federal government (b) community government (c) coalition government (d) unitary government

10. In which capital city did the Dutch-speaking people form a majority in the country but a minority in the city?

(a) Brussels (b) Colombo (c) Beirut (d) Wallonia

Answer key: 1-(b), 2-(c), 3-(b), 4-(b), 5-(b), 6-(b), 7-(b), 8-(b), 9-(c), 10-(a).

For each Assertion–Reason question, choose: (A) Both true and the Reason correctly explains the Assertion; (B) Both true but the Reason is not the correct explanation; (C) Assertion true, Reason false; (D) Assertion false, Reason true.

A-R 1. Assertion: Belgium was able to avoid civic strife between its communities.

Reason: Belgian leaders recognised regional and cultural differences and amended the constitution to share power among communities and regions.

A-R 2. Assertion: The Sri Lankan Tamils felt alienated from the government.

Reason: Government policies recognised Sinhala as the only official language and favoured Sinhalas in jobs and education.

A-R 3. Assertion: Power sharing is only a moral idea and has no practical benefit.

Reason: Power sharing helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups and ensures political stability.

A-R 4. Assertion: In a horizontal distribution of power, no organ of government can exercise unlimited power.

Reason: The legislature, executive and judiciary are placed at the same level and each organ checks the others.

A-R 5. Assertion: The tyranny of the majority oppresses only the minority and never harms the majority.

Reason: Imposing the will of the majority community over others undermines the unity of the nation in the long run.

Answer key: 1-(A), 2-(A), 3-(D), 4-(A), 5-(D).

Exam Tips & Common Mistakes

How to score full marks in this chapter

Keep the two case studies clear: Belgium = accommodation (kept the country united) and Sri Lanka = majoritarianism (led to civil war). Memorise the key facts — Belgium’s 59% Dutch, 40% French, 1% German; Sri Lanka’s 1956 Sinhala-only Act and independence in 1948; and the four constitutional amendments in Belgium between 1970 and 1993. For reasons-based questions, always separate prudential (reduces conflict, ensures stability) from moral (the spirit of democracy). For the ‘forms of power sharing’ question, list all four (horizontal, vertical/federal, social groups, parties/pressure groups) with one example each, and use the matching pairs (separation of powers, federal government, community government, coalition government) correctly.

Common mistakes to avoid

Confusing which community was rich in Belgium — it was the minority French-speaking community, not the Dutch-speaking majority.
Mixing up majoritarianism (Sri Lanka) with accommodation (Belgium).
Writing only one or two forms of power sharing — the answer needs all four forms with an example each.
Confusing horizontal (among organs at the same level) with vertical/federal (among different levels) distribution of power.
Treating prudential and moral reasons as the same — prudential stresses outcomes, moral stresses the act of sharing itself.
Forgetting key dates and figures (1948, 1956, 1970–1993) that examiners often ask for.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Chapter 1 of Class 10 Civics (Democratic Politics II) about?

Chapter 1, Power Sharing, uses the stories of Belgium and Sri Lanka to explain how democracies handle demands for sharing power. It contrasts accommodation with majoritarianism, gives prudential and moral reasons for power sharing, and describes the main forms of power sharing in modern democracies.

What is the difference between prudential and moral reasons for power sharing?

Prudential reasons are based on a practical calculation of gains and losses — power sharing reduces conflict between social groups and ensures political stability. Moral reasons hold that power sharing is valuable in itself because it is the very spirit of democracy, where people have a right to be consulted on how they are governed.

How did Belgium and Sri Lanka deal with power sharing differently?

Belgium chose accommodation, amending its constitution between 1970 and 1993 to share power among its Dutch, French and German-speaking communities, which kept the country united. Sri Lanka chose majoritarianism, with the Sinhala majority imposing its dominance, which alienated the Tamils and led to a civil war.

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