GOVT.

HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL, THAVALAKUPPAM

Chapter: 4, POLITICAL PARTIES

1. (CBSE 2025) Which of the following are the main components of a political party?

I. Leaders

II. Active members

III. Followers

IV. Pressure groups

(a) Only I, II and III are correct

(b) Only II, III and IV are correct

(c) Only I, III and IV are correct

(d) Only I, II and IV are correct.

2. (CBSE 2024) How do political parties ensure accountability to the public?

(a) Through press conferences only

(b) Through social media campaigns only

(c) Through regular internal elections only

(d) Through elections and voter support / public scrutiny.

3. (CBSE 2019) Which of the following best describes the three components of a political
party?

(a) Leaders, followers, bureaucracy

(b) Leaders, active members, followers

(c) Leaders, interest groups, media

(d) Leaders, donors, pressure groups.

4. (CBSE 2016 ) Why do political parties involve partisanship?

(a) Because parties are always united groups

(b) Because parties reflect fundamental political divisions and take sides on issues

(c) Because parties avoid public debates

(d) Because parties are non-political organisations.

5. (CBSE 2013 ) Which of the following is NOT a function of political parties?

(a) Contesting elections to form government

(b) Shaping public opinion

(c) Managing economic policies independently of government

(d) Selecting candidates for elections.

6. Which institution is responsible for recognising political parties and allotting election
symbols in India?

(a) Parliament

(b) President of India

(c) Election Commission of India

(d) Supreme Court of India.

7. (CBSE 2017 ) A political party that exists and contests elections only in one or some
states (but not nationwide) is called:

(a) National party

(b) Regional / State party

(c) Pressure group

(d) Single-issue party.

8. (CBSE 2013) Which of the following is an example of a challenge faced by political

parties in India?

(a) Strong internal democracy everywhere

(b) Dynastic succession and concentration of power

(c) Complete transparency in party funding

(d) Excessive member participation.

9. (CBSE 2012 ) What is a party manifesto?

(a) A party’s election symbol

(b) A public programme and list of promises of a party during elections

(c) The party membership list

(d) The internal financial report of a party.

10. (CBSE 2011) Which of the following best explains the role of opposition parties?

(a) To always support the government’s policies

(b) To keep a check on the government and criticise it when necessary

(c) To remain inactive between elections

(d) To manage the judiciary.

11. Which one of the following is NOT a criterion for recognition as a national party in India?

(a) A party secures at least 6% of votes in four or more states and wins seats in Lok Sabha

(b) A party wins 2% of seats in Lok Sabha from at least three different states

(c) A party is registered with the Election Commission for more than 10 years

(d) A party wins a certain number of assembly seats in multiple states.

12. The term ‘internal democracy’ in political parties means:

(a) Party leaders appoint all office bearers for life

(b) Regular, free and fair elections within the party at different levels

(c) Only one family controls party affairs

(d) Party decisions are kept secret from members

13. Which of the following BEST describes a multi-party system?

(a) Only one party is allowed to exist

(b) Two major parties dominate totally and others are banned

(c) Several parties operate and compete for power; coalitions are common

(d) Parties do not contest elections.

14. Which of these practices strengthens internal democracy within political parties?

(a) Hereditary succession of leaders

(b) Open primaries to choose candidates

(c) Secrecy in candidate selection

(d) Centralised nomination by a single leader.

15. Which of the following is a POSITIVE function of political parties in a democracy?

(a) Promoting political apathy

(b) Aggregating and articulating diverse interests of people

(c) Preventing competition for power

(d) Limiting voter choices.

16. Which body can deregister a political party in India for violating rules?

(a) Supreme Court

(b) Parliament

(c) Election Commission of India

(d) President of India

17. The phrase ‘party system’ refers to:

(a) The internal financial system of a party

(b) The way political parties are organised and compete in a country (two-party, multi-party
etc.)

(c) The election machinery only

(d) Party manifestos.

18. Which of the following is often cited as a reason for the rise of regional parties in India?

(a) Uniform national interests across all regions

(b) Regional social issues and identity politics that national parties fail to address

(c) Lack of local leaders

(d) Centralised candidate selection by national parties.

19. Which practice weakens parties and is considered undemocratic?

(a) Regular internal elections

(b) Transparency in funding

(c) Dynastic succession in leadership

(d) Grassroots member participation.

20. What is ‘partisanship’?

(a) The practice of being neutral on all issues

(b) Strong support for one party and inability to take a balanced view on issues

(c) Random switching between parties for convenience

(d) A method of counting votes.

21. Which of these is NOT a function of political parties?

(a) Contesting elections and forming governments

(b) Providing political education to citizens

(c) Monitoring election fairness (primary job of Election Commission)

(d) Selecting candidates for elections.

22.What does it mean when the Election Commission allots a ‘symbol’ to a political party?

(a) The party receives financial aid from EC

(b) The party gets a unique identifiable mark for recognition on ballot/papers

(c) The party becomes the ruling party automatically

(d) The party’s manifesto is approved by EC.

23. Which of the following methods can make parties more accountable?

(a) Reducing transparency of party finances

(b) Public disclosure of donations and expenditures

(c) Appointing candidates without consultations

(d) Banning internal elections.

24. Why are coalitions formed at the national level in India?

(a) Because one party always wins majority easily

(b) Because several parties together can form a majority when no single party gets enough
seats

(c) Because coalitions are legally mandatory before elections

(d) Because coalitions reduce representation.

25.Which of the following best explains the role of political parties in shaping public
opinion?

(a) They ignore public issues completely

(b) Parties communicate their policies and influence public debates through rallies, media
and manifestos

(c) They strictly avoid contesting local problems

(d) They only help with administrative tasks of government.