CBSE CLASS 10 CIVICS • DEMOCRATIC POLITICS-II
Power Sharing Class 10 MCQs with Answers
Complete NCERT-based multiple-choice revision covering Belgium, Sri Lanka, majoritarianism, accommodation, prudential and moral reasons for power sharing, and all four forms of power sharing.
120
MCQs
NCERT
Chapter-based
4
Forms of Power Sharing
How to use this page:
Attempt each question before checking the answer. The set moves from
basic NCERT facts to conceptual, statement-based and application-oriented
questions so that you can revise the complete chapter in one place.
For descriptive revision, continue with our
Power Sharing Class 10 Questions and Answers.
Quick Revision Map
Belgium & Sri Lanka: Questions 1–25
1.
Belgium is a small country located in which continent?
Correct answer: B) Europe
2.
Belgium shares its borders with France, the Netherlands, Germany and which other country?
Correct answer: A) Luxembourg
3.
What percentage of Belgium's population lives in the Flemish region?
Correct answer: C) 59%
4.
Which language is mainly spoken in Belgium's Flemish region?
Correct answer: B) Dutch
5.
About what percentage of Belgium's population lives in Wallonia and speaks French?
Correct answer: B) 40%
6.
What percentage of Belgians speak German?
Correct answer: A) 1%
7.
In Brussels, approximately what percentage of people speak French?
Correct answer: D) 80%
8.
Which language-speaking group forms a majority in Belgium but a minority in Brussels?
Correct answer: B) Dutch-speaking group
9.
During which decades did tensions between Dutch-speaking and French-speaking communities become prominent in Belgium?
Correct answer: B) 1950s and 1960s
10.
Why was Brussels a special problem in Belgium?
Correct answer: C) The Dutch-speaking majority nationally was a minority there
11.
Sri Lanka is an island nation located just off the southern coast of which Indian state?
Correct answer: C) Tamil Nadu
12.
According to NCERT, approximately what percentage of Sri Lanka's population is Sinhala-speaking?
Correct answer: C) 74%
13.
Approximately what percentage of Sri Lanka's population is Tamil-speaking?
Correct answer: B) 18%
14.
Which two broad sub-groups are included among the Tamil-speaking population of Sri Lanka?
Correct answer: A) Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian Tamils
15.
Where are Sri Lankan Tamils mainly concentrated?
Correct answer: A) North and East
16.
Most Sinhala-speaking people in Sri Lanka are followers of which religion?
Correct answer: C) Buddhism
17.
Most Tamils in Sri Lanka are followers of which religions?
Correct answer: A) Hinduism or Islam
18.
Sri Lanka became an independent country in which year?
Correct answer: B) 1948
19.
Which community sought to secure dominance over the Sri Lankan government after independence?
Correct answer: C) Sinhala-speaking community
20.
Which concept best describes the attempt of a majority community to rule by disregarding the wishes and needs of minorities?
Correct answer: B) Majoritarianism
21.
Which Sri Lankan law of 1956 recognised Sinhala as the only official language?
Correct answer: A) Official Language Act
22.
Which language was disregarded by Sri Lanka's 1956 language policy?
Correct answer: C) Tamil
23.
Which applicants were favoured by preferential policies in university positions and government jobs in Sri Lanka?
Correct answer: A) Sinhala applicants
24.
What did the Sri Lankan Constitution stipulate regarding Buddhism?
Correct answer: C) The state would protect and foster Buddhism
25.
What was a major consequence of Sri Lanka's majoritarian policies?
Correct answer: B) Alienation among Sri Lankan Tamils
Majoritarianism in Sri Lanka: Questions 26–45
26.
What does majoritarianism mean in the context of the chapter?
Correct answer: B) Rule by the majority while disregarding minority interests
27.
How did majoritarian policies affect the political rights of Sri Lankan Tamils?
Correct answer: B) They denied them equal political rights
28.
Which of the following was NOT a majoritarian measure described in the chapter?
Correct answer: C) Equal representation for Tamil and Sinhala communities
29.
What did Sri Lankan Tamils demand regarding language?
Correct answer: A) Recognition of Tamil as an official language
30.
Which political demand did Sri Lankan Tamils make concerning their regions?
Correct answer: A) Regional autonomy
31.
Sri Lankan Tamils demanded equality of opportunity in which areas?
Correct answer: A) Education and jobs
32.
What happened to the demand of Sri Lankan Tamils for greater autonomy to Tamil-populated provinces?
Correct answer: B) It was repeatedly denied
33.
By which decade were several organisations demanding an independent Tamil Eelam formed?
Correct answer: C) 1980s
34.
Tamil Eelam was demanded in which parts of Sri Lanka?
Correct answer: A) North and East
35.
What did distrust between Sinhala and Tamil communities eventually become?
Correct answer: B) Widespread conflict and civil war
36.
What is a civil war?
Correct answer: B) A violent conflict between opposing groups within a country
37.
When did the Sri Lankan civil war end, according to NCERT?
Correct answer: C) 2009
38.
Which community felt alienated because of Sri Lanka's majoritarian policies?
Correct answer: A) Sri Lankan Tamils
39.
Which statement best describes the Sri Lankan approach to ethnic diversity?
Correct answer: B) Majoritarian dominance
40.
Which statement best explains the danger of majoritarianism?
Correct answer: B) It can alienate minorities and undermine national unity
41.
Which of the following would be an example of accommodation rather than majoritarianism?
Correct answer: B) Ensuring representation for different communities
42.
The Sri Lankan case demonstrates the consequences of refusing to share power with:
Correct answer: B) Different communities
43.
Which combination correctly identifies the two contrasting approaches discussed in the chapter?
Correct answer: B) Belgium—accommodation; Sri Lanka—majoritarianism
44.
What did the Belgian experience demonstrate about national unity?
Correct answer: B) Unity can be strengthened by respecting different communities and regions
45.
Which lesson is common to the Belgium and Sri Lanka case studies?
Correct answer: B) How a country handles diversity can affect its unity
Accommodation in Belgium: Questions 46–70
46.
Between which years did Belgium amend its Constitution four times to develop a power-sharing arrangement?
Correct answer: C) 1970–1993
47.
What is one important feature of Belgium's central government?
Correct answer: B) Dutch- and French-speaking ministers are equal in number
48.
Why do some special laws in Belgium require support from a majority of members of each linguistic group?
Correct answer: B) To prevent a single community from making decisions unilaterally
49.
What happened to many powers of the Belgian Central Government?
Correct answer: B) They were given to State Governments
50.
How are Belgian State Governments related to the Central Government?
Correct answer: B) They are not subordinate to it
51.
What special arrangement exists for Brussels?
Correct answer: B) It has a separate government with equal representation of the two communities
52.
What did the Dutch-speaking community accept in Brussels?
Correct answer: B) Equal representation
53.
What is the third kind of government in Belgium apart from Central and State Governments?
Correct answer: A) Community Government
54.
The Belgian Community Government is elected by people belonging to:
Correct answer: A) A particular language community
55.
Belgium's Community Government includes which linguistic communities?
Correct answer: A) Dutch, French and German-speaking
56.
Which subjects fall under Belgium's Community Government?
Correct answer: B) Cultural, educational and language-related matters
57.
Why was Belgium's power-sharing arrangement considered innovative?
Correct answer: B) It combined several mechanisms to accommodate different communities and regions
58.
What problem did Belgium's arrangements help avoid?
Correct answer: B) Civic strife and possible linguistic division
59.
Which city became the headquarters of the European Union and is discussed in the chapter?
Correct answer: B) Brussels
60.
Which principle is most clearly reflected in Belgium's power-sharing model?
Correct answer: B) Accommodation of diversity
61.
Which Belgian institution represents the idea of power sharing among linguistic communities?
Correct answer: A) Community Government
62.
Which arrangement prevents one linguistic community in Belgium from taking unilateral decisions on certain special laws?
Correct answer: A) Requirement of majority support from each linguistic group
63.
Which of the following is an example of vertical power sharing in Belgium?
Correct answer: B) Division of powers between Central and State Governments
64.
Which of the following best describes Belgium's response to linguistic diversity?
Correct answer: B) Recognise diversity and create power-sharing arrangements
65.
Which statement about Belgium's Community Government is correct?
Correct answer: B) It is elected by people belonging to a language community
66.
Why did the Belgian model help prevent a possible division of the country?
Correct answer: B) It gave different communities a stake in governance
67.
Which Belgian community was relatively rich and powerful in the earlier period described by NCERT?
Correct answer: A) French-speaking community
68.
Why did the Dutch-speaking community resent the French-speaking community in Belgium?
Correct answer: B) The French-speaking community was relatively rich and powerful
69.
What made Brussels especially sensitive in the Belgian conflict?
Correct answer: B) Its linguistic composition differed from the national pattern
70.
Which word best describes Belgium's method of dealing with its ethnic and linguistic differences?
Correct answer: A) Accommodation
Why Power Sharing Is Desirable: Questions 71–90
71.
What is the first major reason given by NCERT in favour of power sharing?
Correct answer: B) It reduces the possibility of conflict between social groups
72.
Which type of reason focuses on better outcomes, stability and reducing conflict?
Correct answer: B) Prudential
73.
Why can social conflict become dangerous for a political system?
Correct answer: A) It can lead to violence and political instability
74.
According to NCERT, imposing the majority's will may appear attractive in the short run but can do what in the long run?
Correct answer: B) Undermine national unity
75.
What does the term "tyranny of the majority" refer to in this chapter?
Correct answer: B) Oppressive use of majority power against minorities
76.
Why can tyranny of the majority also affect the majority adversely?
Correct answer: A) It can create conflict and instability that harm the whole country
77.
What is the deeper moral reason for power sharing?
Correct answer: B) Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy
78.
According to the moral argument, people have a right to be:
Correct answer: B) Consulted about how they are governed
79.
What makes a government legitimate according to the chapter's moral argument?
Correct answer: A) Citizens acquire a stake through participation
80.
Which type of reason emphasises the value of the act of power sharing itself?
Correct answer: B) Moral
81.
Which of the following is a prudential argument for power sharing?
Correct answer: B) It reduces conflict and promotes political stability
82.
Which of the following is a moral argument for power sharing?
Correct answer: B) It allows people affected by decisions to participate
83.
Which statement correctly distinguishes prudential and moral reasons?
Correct answer: A) Prudential reasons focus on outcomes; moral reasons focus on democratic participation
84.
A government shares power because it expects fewer conflicts and greater stability. This is primarily a:
Correct answer: B) Prudential reason
85.
A government shares power because citizens have a right to participate in decisions affecting them. This is primarily a:
Correct answer: A) Moral reason
86.
Which of the following best expresses the prudential argument?
Correct answer: B) Power sharing can produce better political outcomes
87.
Why is power sharing considered the spirit of democracy?
Correct answer: B) Democratic rule involves sharing power with those affected by its exercise
88.
Which of the following is most closely associated with a legitimate government?
Correct answer: A) Citizen participation
89.
Which argument would be classified as moral rather than prudential?
Correct answer: C) People have a right to participate in government
90.
Which conclusion is supported by the chapter's discussion of power sharing?
Correct answer: B) Power sharing has both practical and democratic value
Forms of Power Sharing: Questions 91–110
91.
How many common forms of power sharing are discussed in the chapter?
Correct answer: C) Four
92.
Power shared among the legislature, executive and judiciary is called:
Correct answer: B) Horizontal distribution
93.
Why is power sharing among different organs called horizontal distribution?
Correct answer: B) The organs are placed at the same level but exercise different powers
94.
What prevents any one organ of government from exercising unlimited power?
Correct answer: A) Checks and balances
95.
Power shared among governments at different levels is known as:
Correct answer: B) Vertical division
96.
What is the federal division of power?
Correct answer: B) Division of powers among different levels of government
97.
Which lower levels of government are mentioned as examples of vertical power sharing?
Correct answer: A) Municipalities and panchayats
98.
Power sharing among religious and linguistic groups is an example of power sharing among:
Correct answer: A) Social groups
99.
Which Belgian institution is a good example of power sharing among social groups?
Correct answer: A) Community Government
100.
Reserved constituencies are intended to give representation to:
Correct answer: B) Socially weaker and disadvantaged sections
101.
How do political parties provide a form of power sharing?
Correct answer: B) Competition allows different parties representing different groups and ideologies to seek power
102.
When two or more political parties form an alliance and jointly run a government, it is called:
Correct answer: B) Coalition government
103.
Which of the following is an interest group mentioned in the chapter?
Correct answer: A) Farmers
104.
Which of these is also mentioned as an interest group?
Correct answer: A) Traders
105.
Interest groups can influence government decision-making through:
Correct answer: A) Participation in committees and influence on decisions
106.
Which form of power sharing is represented by legislature, executive and judiciary checking one another?
Correct answer: A) Horizontal distribution
107.
Which form of power sharing is represented by Union and State Governments?
Correct answer: B) Vertical division
108.
Which form is represented by power shared among religious and linguistic communities?
Correct answer: A) Power sharing among social groups
109.
Which form of power sharing involves political parties, pressure groups and movements?
Correct answer: A) Power sharing among political parties and interest groups
110.
Which statement correctly matches the four forms of power sharing?
Correct answer: A) Organs—horizontal; levels—vertical; social groups—community; parties—coalition
Application, Statement & Exam-Pattern Questions: 111–120
111.
A country allows its legislature, executive and judiciary to check one another. Which form of power sharing is this?
Correct answer: B) Horizontal distribution
112.
A country gives constitutional powers to national, regional and local governments. Which principle does this illustrate?
Correct answer: B) Vertical power sharing
113.
A country reserves seats for socially weaker groups so that they receive representation in government. Which form of power sharing does this illustrate?
Correct answer: A) Sharing among social groups
114.
Two parties fail to win a clear majority but join together to form a government. This is an example of:
Correct answer: A) Coalition government
115.
Consider the following statements:
1. Power sharing reduces the possibility of conflict.
2. Power sharing is incompatible with democracy.
Which statement is correct?
1. Power sharing reduces the possibility of conflict.
2. Power sharing is incompatible with democracy.
Which statement is correct?
Correct answer: A) 1 only
116.
Consider the following statements:
1. Belgium accommodated linguistic diversity.
2. Sri Lanka adopted majoritarian policies.
Which option is correct?
1. Belgium accommodated linguistic diversity.
2. Sri Lanka adopted majoritarian policies.
Which option is correct?
Correct answer: C) Both 1 and 2 are correct
117.
Which situation is most likely to strengthen democratic legitimacy?
Correct answer: B) Different groups participate in shaping public policies
118.
A government argues that sharing power will prevent violence and political instability. Which type of argument is being used?
Correct answer: B) Prudential
119.
Which conclusion can be drawn from the contrast between Belgium and Sri Lanka?
Correct answer: B) Respecting diversity and sharing power can help preserve national unity
120.
Which statement best summarises the central message of the chapter Power-sharing?
Correct answer: B) Power sharing helps accommodate diversity, reduce conflict and deepen democracy
Exam Tip:
For Power Sharing, make sure you can clearly distinguish
majoritarianism from accommodation,
prudential from moral reasons, and
horizontal from vertical power sharing.
These distinctions are central to both objective and descriptive questions.
Continue Your Class 10 Civics Revision
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Finished the Power Sharing MCQs? Continue with our descriptive questions and answers, then revise the other Class 10 Civics chapters for a complete Social Science preparation sequence.