Political Parties – Class 10 Notes: Simplified and Explained for Easy Understanding

Political Parties Class 10 Notes

Step into the world of democracy’s core engine—political parties—with our clear and simplified notes on Chapter 4 of Class 10 Political Science. Tailored for CBSE 2025–26 board exam preparation, these notes align perfectly with the latest NCERT syllabus and help you grasp essential concepts with ease.

Explore how political parties are formed, what roles they play in a democracy, and how they influence elections and governance. Gain insights into different types of political parties, their ideologies, and the party systems that shape India’s political structure. This guide is your go-to resource for mastering one of the most important chapters in civics.

Why do we need political parties?

Meaning

Political party: A political party is a group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in the government. They agree on some policies and programs for society to promote the collective good. They try to persuade people as to why their policies are better than others and seek to implement these policies by winning popular support through elections.

The main components of political parties are:

The leaders
The active members, and
The followers.

Functions

Functions of a political party:

Parties contest elections.
Parties put forward different policies and programs and the voters choose from them.
Parties play a decisive role in making laws for a country.
Parties form and run governments.
Those parties that lose in the elections play the role of opposition to the parties in power, by voicing different views and criticizing the government for its failures or wrong policies.
Parties shape public opinion. They raise and highlight issues.
Parties provide people access to government machinery and welfare schemes implemented by governments.

Necessity

The rise of political parties is directly linked to the emergence of representative democracy

As societies become large and complex, they need some agency to get different views on various issues and to present this to the government.
They need some way to bring various representatives together so that a responsible government could be formed.
They need a mechanism to support or restrain the government, make policies, and justify or oppose them.
Political parties fulfill these needs that every representative government has. Thus, political parties are a necessary condition for democracy.

How many parties should we have?

One-Party System

Countries, where only one party is allowed to control and run the government are called one-party systems.
For example, in China, only the Communist Party is allowed to rule.
A one-party system is not considered a good option in a democratic system because voters are not offered any choice at the time of voting. This is not a democratic option. Any democratic system must allow at least two parties to compete in elections and provide a fair chance for the competing parties to come to power.

Two-Party System

Countries where only two main parties contest elections are called two-party systems.
For example - the United States of America and the United Kingdom are examples of a two-party system.

Multi-party system

If several parties compete for power, and more than two parties have a reasonable chance of coming to power either on their strength or in alliance with others, we call it a multiparty system.

The multi-party system evolved in India because:

India is blessed with tremendous social and geographical diversity. This diversity cannot be easily accommodated by two or three political parties.
Because of the multiparty system, a variety of interests and opinions enjoy political representation.

All the countries of the world can't have the same party system because:

A party system is not something any country can choose.
It evolves over a long time depending on the nature of society, its social and regional divisions, its history of politics, and its system of elections.
Each country develops a party system that is conditioned by special circumstances. No system is ideal for all countries and all situations.

National parties

National political parties are country-wide parties. They have units in various states. All these units follow the same policies, programs, and strategy that is decided at the national level.

Conditions required to be a national political party are:

A party that secures at least 6% of the total votes in Lok Sabha elections or Assembly elections in four states.
Wins at least four seats in the Lok Sabha.

There were 6 recognized national parties in India in 2023.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP):

Founded: November 26, 2012, after the 2011 anti-corruption movement.
Ideals: Accountability, transparency, clean governance, and good governance.
Achievements: Quickly rose to prominence in Delhi, forming a government with support from the Indian National Congress (INC). Recently became a key political player in Gujarat as well.
Governments Formed: Currently governs Punjab and Delhi.
Lok Sabha: Secured one seat in the 2019 elections.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)

Founded: 1984 by Kanshi Ram.
Ideals: Advocates for the "bahujan samaj" (majority society) which includes Dalits, Adivasis, OBCs, and minorities. Inspired by social reformers like Ambedkar, Phule, and Periyar.
Focus: Welfare and representation of Dalits and oppressed communities.
Base: Primarily in Uttar Pradesh but also has a presence in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, and Punjab.
Lok Sabha: Polled 3.63% of the vote share and secured 10 seats in 2019.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

Founded: 1980, tracing its origins back to the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, formed by Syama Prasad Mukherjee in 1951.
Ideals: Strong and modern India rooted in Indian culture; adheres to the idea of cultural nationalism (Hindutva) and concepts like integral humanism and Antyodaya (upliftment of the marginalized).
Policies: Advocates for the complete integration of Jammu and Kashmir with India, a uniform civil code, and a ban on religious conversions.
Reach: Initially limited to northern and urban areas, now has a substantial presence across rural, southern, and eastern India.
Governments Formed: Leads the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and currently holds power at the Centre with 303 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPI-M)

Founded: 1964.
Ideals: Marxism-Leninism, socialism, secularism, democracy; opposes imperialism and communalism.
Support Base: Strong in West Bengal, Kerala, and Tripura, particularly among poor, factory workers, farmers, agricultural labourers and the intelligentsia.
Policies: Critical of economic liberalization policies that encourage foreign investment and imports.
Governments Formed: Ruled West Bengal continuously for 34 years.
Lok Sabha: Secured about 1.75% of the vote and won 3 seats in the 2019 elections.

Indian National Congress (INC)

Founded: 1885, one of the oldest political parties globally.
Ideals: Centrist, supporting secularism and the welfare of weaker sections and minorities.
Role in History: Key player in India’s independence movement and governance post-independence, especially under Jawaharlal Nehru.
Policies: Embraces economic reforms with a focus on social welfare, supports the new economic reforms with a "human face."
Governments Formed: Led the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) from 2004 to 2019.
Lok Sabha: Won 19.5% of the vote and 52 seats in the 2019 elections.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)

Founded: July 2013 by P.A. Sangma. NPP is the first political party from North East India to have attained the status of a national party.
Ideals: Focuses on recognizing regional diversity and addressing unique developmental challenges in North Eastern India. The party’s philosophy emphasizes education, employment, and empowerment.
Governments Formed: Governed Meghalaya and has a growing presence across North Eastern states.
Lok Sabha: Secured one seat in the 2019 elections.

State parties

A regional party is a party that is present in only some states. Regional parties are commonly referred to as ‘State parties’.

Conditions required for a party to be recognized as a regional political party are:

A party that secures at least 6% of the total votes in an election to the Legislative Assembly of a State
Wins at least 2 seats in the Legislative Assembly.

Challenges to political parties

1. Lack of internal democracy within parties

Parties do not keep membership registers, do not hold organizational meetings, and do not conduct internal elections regularly.
Ordinary members of the party do not get sufficient information on what happens inside the party.
They do not have the means or the connections needed to influence the decisions. As a result, the leaders assume greater power to make decisions in the name of the party.
Since one or few leaders exercise paramount power in the party, those who disagree with the leadership find it difficult to continue in the party.
More than loyalty to party principles and policies, personal loyalty to the leader becomes more important.

2. The challenge of dynastic succession

Most parties do not practice open and transparent procedures, hence, there are very few opportunities for an ordinary worker to rise to the top in a party.
Top leaders favor people close to them or even their family members. In many parties, the top positions are always controlled by members of one family.
This practice is unfair to other members of that party and is also bad for democracy since people who do not have adequate experience or popular support come to occupy positions of power.

3. The growing role of money and muscle power in parties, especially during elections

Since parties are focused only on winning elections, they tend to use shortcuts to win elections.
They tend to nominate those candidates who have or can raise lots of money.
Rich people and companies who give funds to the parties tend to influence the policies and decisions of the party.
In some cases, parties support criminals who can win elections.
Democrats all over the world are worried about the increasing role of rich people and big companies in democratic politics.

4. Parties do not seem to offer a meaningful choice to the voters.

In recent years there has been a decline in the ideological differences among parties in most parts of the world.
They agree on more fundamental aspects but differ only in details on how policies are to be framed and implemented.
Those who want different policies have no option available to them.
Sometimes people cannot even elect very different leaders either, because the same set of leaders keeps shifting from one party to another.

How can parties be reformed?

Some of the recent efforts in India to reform political parties and their leaders are:

The constitution was amended to prevent elected MLAs and MPs from changing parties. This was done because many elected representatives were indulging in defection to become ministers or for cash rewards. Now the law says that if any MLA or MP changes parties, he/she will lose the seat in the legislature.
The Supreme Court passed an order to reduce the influence of money and criminals. Now, it is mandatory for every candidate who contests elections to file an affidavit giving details of his property and criminal cases pending against them.
The Election Commission passed an order making it necessary for political parties to hold their organizational elections and file their income tax returns.

Suggestions to reform political parties in India:

Regulation of party’s internal affairs: A law should be made to regulate the internal affairs of political parties. It should be made compulsory for political parties to maintain a register of their members, to follow their constitution, to have an independent authority, etc.
Ensure women's participation: It should be made mandatory for political parties to give a minimum number of tickets, about one-third, to women candidates.
State funding: There should be state funding of elections. The government should give money to parties to support their election expenses to avoid corruption.
The pressure of public opinion: Political parties can be reformed if people put pressure on them. This can be done through petitions, propaganda, and agitations. Pressure groups and media play an important role in this.
Public participation: Political parties can improve if those who want this join political parties. The quality of democracy depends on the degree of public participation.

Important Keywords

Partisan	A person who is strongly committed to a party, group, or faction. Partisanship is marked by a tendency to take a side and an inability to take a balanced view on an issue.
Defection	Changing party allegiance from the party on which a person got elected (to a legislative body) to a different party.
Affidavit	A signed document submitted to an officer, where a person makes a sworn statement regarding her personal information.

📘 Chapter 6: Political Parties – NCERT Solutions

Page 77 – Intext Questions

Q1. State the various functions political parties perform in a democracy.
Answer:
Political parties perform the following functions in a democracy:

Contesting Elections: They nominate candidates for elections.
Policy Making: They propose various policies and programmes.
Making Laws: Elected party members participate in the law-making process.
Running the Government: Parties form and run governments.
Role of Opposition: They criticize and keep a check on the ruling party.
Public Opinion Formation: They shape and reflect public opinion.
Linking People and Government: They act as a bridge between people and the government.

Page 80 – Intext Questions

Q2. What are the various challenges faced by political parties?
Answer:
The major challenges faced by political parties are:

Lack of internal democracy – Power is often concentrated in the hands of a few leaders.
Dynastic succession – Leadership positions are often handed down to family members.
Money and muscle power – Rich candidates and criminals often dominate elections.
Lack of meaningful choice – There is little difference in ideology among many parties.

Page 81 – Intext Questions

Q3. Suggest some reforms to strengthen parties so that they perform their functions well.
Answer:
Reforms for political parties include:

Laws to regulate internal democracy within parties.
Reservation of one-third seats for women in party leadership and elections.
State funding of elections to reduce dependence on donations.
Strict implementation of the anti-defection law.
Transparency in party funding and audits.

Page 82 – Exercises (Back Questions)

Q1. State the functions of political parties.
Answer:
Political parties:

Contest elections.
Form and run governments.
Make policies and laws.
Play the role of opposition.
Shape public opinion.
Provide people access to government machinery.

Q2. What are the characteristics of a political party?
Answer:

A political party is a group of people with similar ideology and goals.
They aim to attain political power by contesting elections.
They implement their policies when in power.
They represent diverse sections of society.

Q3. A group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in the government is called a ____________.
Answer:
Political party

Q4. Match List I (organisations and struggles) with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists.
(Standard matching from the book – Answer: C. a-ii, b-iv, c-i, d-iii)

Q5. What are the major functions of political parties? (Same as Q1 above)
Refer to Q1 for the answer.

Q6. What are the major challenges faced by political parties? (Same as Page 80 Q2)
Refer to Intext Answer Q2 above.

Q7. Suggest some reforms to strengthen political parties. (Same as Page 81 Q3)
Refer to Intext Answer Q3 above.

Q8. What is a political party?
Answer:
A political party is an organized group of people who share common principles and aim to attain and retain power through elections, to implement their agenda.

Q9. What are the different types of party systems?
Answer:

One-party system – Only one party is allowed (e.g., China).
Two-party system – Two main parties dominate (e.g., USA, UK).
Multi-party system – Several parties compete (e.g., India).

Q10. Write a brief note on the types of political parties in India.
Answer:

National Parties: Recognized in four or more states (e.g., BJP, INC, BSP).
State Parties: Recognized in a particular state (e.g., DMK in Tamil Nadu, BJD in Odisha).
They are registered and classified by the Election Commission of India based on vote share and seats won.

Class 10 Political Science – Chapter 6: Political Parties

🔹 CBSE Past Year Questions with Answers (2013–2023)

Aligned with the latest CBSE Board pattern for 2025.

🟩 1-MARK QUESTIONS (VSA)

Q1. What is meant by a political party?
📌 (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
A political party is a group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in government.

Q2. Which system of government allows only one political party to rule?
📌 (CBSE 2017)
Answer:
One-party system. Example: China.

Q3. Name any one National Political Party of India.
📌 (CBSE 2020)
Answer:
Indian National Congress (INC) or Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Q4. Define a multi-party system.
📌 (CBSE 2021)
Answer:
A system in which more than two political parties compete for power, and coalition governments often form. Example: India.

Q5. Name the institution that gives recognition to political parties in India.
📌 (CBSE 2019)
Answer:
The Election Commission of India.

🟨 3-MARK QUESTIONS (SA)

Q6. Mention any three major challenges faced by political parties in India.
📌 (CBSE 2016, 2020)
Answer:

Lack of internal democracy – Power is concentrated in few leaders.
Dynastic succession – Family members dominate leadership.
Use of money and muscle power – Candidates with wealth/criminal backgrounds dominate elections.

Q7. State the various functions political parties perform in a democracy.
📌 (CBSE 2015, 2018)
Answer:

They contest elections and form governments.
They formulate policies and laws.
They represent people's needs and link them to the government.

Q8. What are the different types of party systems? Explain any two with examples.
📌 (CBSE 2019)
Answer:

One-party system – Only one party controls power. (e.g., China)
Two-party system – Two major parties dominate (e.g., USA, UK).
Multi-party system – Many parties compete (e.g., India).

Q9. What are the differences between national and state political parties? Give examples.
📌 (CBSE 2022)
Answer:

National Party: Recognized in 4+ states (e.g., BJP, INC).
State Party: Recognized in one state (e.g., DMK, BJD).
National parties contest Lok Sabha elections nationwide; state parties focus on state elections.

🟥 5-MARK QUESTIONS (LA)

Q10. Describe the various ways in which political parties shape public opinion.
📌 (CBSE 2017, 2021)
Answer:

Parties raise and highlight public issues.
They launch movements to influence government policies.
They simplify complex issues for public understanding.
They bring different groups together to form public consensus.
Act as a medium between government and citizens.

Q11. Explain the role of opposition parties in a democracy.
📌 (CBSE 2016)
Answer:

Criticize and keep a check on the ruling party.
Highlight wrong policies and suggest improvements.
Represent diverse public concerns.
Mobilize people and launch public campaigns.
Ensure accountability of the government.

Q12. “There is a lack of internal democracy within political parties in India.” Explain with examples.
📌 (CBSE 2020)
Answer:

Decision-making lies in the hands of a few top leaders.
Regular internal elections are often not held.
Ordinary members are unaware of internal processes.
Leaders often promote their own family members.
Lack of transparency leads to autocratic leadership.

Q13. Suggest and explain any five measures to reform political parties in India.
📌 (CBSE 2019, 2022)
Answer:

Internal democracy: Conduct regular elections within parties.
Transparency in funding: Make financial sources public.
Reservation for women: At least one-third seats in leadership.
State funding of elections: Reduce dependence on private donations.
Strict laws: Ban use of criminals and black money in politics.

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