Power Sharing Class 10 Notes, Questions, MCQs & Answers
Complete NCERT-based revision of Power Sharing, covering Belgium and Sri Lanka, majoritarianism, accommodation, the need for power sharing and the four forms of power sharing.
Power Sharing Class 10 Study Material
Questions and Answers
Exam-ready short and long answers covering Belgium, Sri Lanka, majoritarianism, accommodation, reasons and forms of power sharing.
MCQs with Answers
120 chapter-based MCQs covering NCERT facts, concepts, statement-based questions and application-oriented revision.
Important Questions
High-priority descriptive practice for short, long, case-based and competency-oriented examination preparation.
What Is Power Sharing?
Power sharing is the distribution of power among different organs, levels, social groups and political parties or pressure groups. The chapter uses Belgium and Sri Lanka to show how different approaches to sharing power can shape social harmony, conflict and national unity.
In a democracy, power sharing is closely connected with participation: people and groups affected by decisions should have a role in making or influencing those decisions.
Belgium and Sri Lanka: Two Different Approaches
Belgium's Power-Sharing Arrangement
Belgium faced tensions among Dutch-speaking, French-speaking and German-speaking communities. Its leaders developed constitutional arrangements that accommodated different communities and regions instead of allowing one group to dominate.
| Arrangement | What it means |
|---|---|
| Central Government | The central government has equal numbers of Dutch- and French-speaking ministers. |
| Special Laws | Some laws require support from a majority of members of each linguistic group. |
| State Governments | Many powers were given to state governments, which are not subordinate to the central government. |
| Brussels | A separate government provides equal representation to the two main communities. |
| Community Government | People belonging to a particular language community elect a government dealing with cultural, educational and language-related matters. |
Majoritarianism and Its Consequences
After independence, Sri Lanka adopted policies that favoured the Sinhala-speaking majority. The 1956 language policy made Sinhala the only official language, preferential policies favoured Sinhala applicants in education and employment, and the Constitution gave Buddhism a special position.
These policies contributed to feelings of alienation among Sri Lankan Tamils. Their demands included recognition of Tamil, regional autonomy and equality of opportunity. Growing distrust eventually contributed to conflict and civil war.
| Policy or development | Chapter significance |
|---|---|
| Official Language Act, 1956 | Recognised Sinhala as the only official language. |
| Preferential policies | Favoured Sinhala applicants in university positions and government jobs. |
| Constitution and Buddhism | The state was directed to protect and foster Buddhism. |
| Tamil demands | Included recognition of Tamil, regional autonomy and equality of opportunity. |
| Outcome | Alienation and distrust contributed to widespread conflict and civil war. |
Prudential and Moral Reasons
Forms of Power Sharing in Modern Democracies
| Form | How power is shared | Typical example |
|---|---|---|
| Among organs of government | Power is shared among the legislature, executive and judiciary. | Horizontal distribution of power with checks and balances. |
| Among levels of government | Power is shared among central, state and local levels. | Vertical division of powers in a federal system. |
| Among social groups | Different social groups are given representation or a share in political power. | Community-based or group-based representation. |
| Among political parties, pressure groups and movements | Different political actors influence or share power through competition, coalitions and participation. | Coalition governments and pressure-group influence. |
Power Sharing at a Glance
How to Prepare Power Sharing for Class 10
Power Sharing Class 10 FAQs
Power sharing means distributing power among different organs, levels, social groups and political actors in a democracy.
It has both prudential and moral reasons: it can reduce conflict and instability, and it reflects the spirit of democratic participation.
Belgium developed arrangements to accommodate different communities, while Sri Lanka followed majoritarian policies that contributed to the alienation of Tamils.
Power can be shared among organs of government, among different levels of government, among social groups, and among political parties, pressure groups and movements.