Social Science — CBSE Class 10 board question

Political parties have become omnipresent (present everywhere) in democracies across the world. About a hundred years ago, very few countries had political parties. Today, there are very few countries that do not have them.

Reasons for their omnipresence:

1. Contesting elections: Parties select and put up candidates. In India, top leaders choose candidates; in the USA, supporters choose them.
2. Policy formation: Parties group millions of opinions into a few clear positions for the government to act on.
3. Forming governments: Parties recruit and train leaders who then run the government.
4. Role of opposition: Losing parties criticise the government and voice alternative views, keeping democracy functional.
5. Shaping public opinion: Parties raise issues and mobilise people through members spread across the country.
6. Access to welfare: Parties help ordinary citizens access government schemes and services.

Without parties, every candidate would be independent, no major policy promises could be made, and no one would be responsible for running the country. Even in panchayat elections where parties do not formally contest, informal factions naturally emerge — proving parties are a necessity in any democracy.

Source: Chapter 4 — Political Parties, 'Why do we need political parties?' and 'Functions'

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• The question asks you to explain the statement with examples — so name countries (India, USA, UK, China) and give concrete functions as evidence.
• The examiner looks for: definition/meaning of omnipresent + reasons (functions) + at least one example per point or overall.
• Do not just list functions mechanically — frame them as reasons why parties are found everywhere.
• The panchayat example is excellent to show parties arise naturally even when not formally permitted.