Q1. [4]
The rise of political parties is directly linked to the emergence of representative democracies. As we have seen, large societies need representative democracy. 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. They needed some ways, to bring various representatives together so that a responsible government could be formed. They needed a mechanism to support or restrain the government, make policies, justify or oppose them. Political parties fulfil these needs that every representative government has. We can say that parties are a necessary condition for a democracy.
Read the given source and answer the questions that follow :
- (36.1) Explain the meaning of a 'political party'. [1]
- (36.2) The rise of political parties is directly linked to the emergence of representative democracy. Justify this statement. [1]
- (36.3) Why are political parties a necessary condition for a democracy ? Explain. [2]
Previously asked in CBSE board exam
2023 32/2/1 Q36
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-15 06:57 · grounding stimulus
Model Answer
(36.1) A political party is an organised group of people who come together to contest elections, hold power, and work to implement certain policies and programmes for society.
(36.2) Large and complex societies need representative democracy, which in turn requires agencies to gather different views, bring representatives together, and form a responsible government — roles only political parties can fulfil.
(36.3) Political parties are a necessary condition for democracy because they:
- Gather different views on various issues and present them to the government.
- Bring representatives together to form a responsible government.
- Provide a mechanism to support or restrain the government.
- Make policies, justify or oppose them on behalf of the people.
Source: Political Parties, Class 10 Civics (Democratic Politics – II)
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Explanation
- (36.1) A one-line definitional answer is sufficient for 1 mark. Focus on the key elements: organised group, elections, power, policies.
- (36.2) Directly lift the logic from the passage — large/complex societies → need representative democracy → need political parties. One crisp sentence scores full marks.
- (36.3) The passage lists four distinct functions. Write them as bullet points; examiners award 1 mark per valid point, so covering 2–3 points from the passage ensures full marks. Do not go beyond the passage for a source-based question.
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