CBSE Class 10 · Social Science · board exam 2027
Chapter 4: Political Parties — notes
The chapter’s 6 parts in the book’s order — the first idea of each and the points Medha Ma’am writes on the board — and the summary at the end. The full lesson and a check question for each part are in the app.
1. What is a political party?
Let's start with the basics, you.
- • Political party: group that contests elections, holds power in govt
- • Agree on policies/programmes for collective good
- • Party = partisan (stands for a part of society)
- • Three components: leaders, active members, followers
2. Why do we need political parties? (Functions)
Okay, so — do we even need political parties at all?
- • Functions of political parties:
- • 1. Contest elections
- • 2. Put forward policies & programmes
- • 3. Play role in making laws
- • 4. Form and run governments
- • 5. Losers play opposition role
- • 6. Shape public opinion
- • 7. Give access to govt machinery & welfare schemes
3. How many parties should we have?
Okay, so let's talk about party systems.
- • One-party system: only one party rules (e.g. China)
- • Two-party system: power shifts between two main parties (USA, UK)
- • Multiparty system: more than two parties can form govt (India)
- • Alliance/Front: parties joining together to contest elections
- • 2004 example: NDA, UPA, Left Front
4. National parties
Okay, so let's talk about parties and the Election Commission.
- • Recognised party: gets unique symbol from Election Commission
- • State party: 6% votes in Assembly election + 2 seats
- • National party: 6% votes in Lok Sabha/4 States Assembly + 4 Lok Sabha seats
- • 6 recognised national parties (EC notification, 2023)
- • Other major parties = State parties (regional parties)
5. Challenges faced by political parties
Okay, so let's look at what troubles political parties today.
- • Challenge 1: Lack of internal democracy
- • Challenge 2: Dynastic succession
- • Challenge 3: Growing role of money and muscle power
- • Challenge 4: No meaningful choice for voters (reduced ideological differences)
6. How can parties be reformed?
Okay, so let's talk about how parties can be reformed.
- • Law against defection: MLA/MP loses seat if they change party
- • Affidavit: candidates must declare property & criminal cases
- • EC: parties must hold internal elections, file tax returns
- • Suggestions: law for internal party affairs; 1/3 tickets to women; state funding of elections
- • Other ways: public pressure; people joining parties themselves
Summary
Okay, so let's recap everything we did in this chapter. A political party, we said, is a group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power. It has leaders, active members, and followers. We also listed the functions parties perform — contesting elections, offering policies, making laws, running governments, forming the opposition, shaping public opinion, and giving people access to government machinery. Then we looked at party systems. There's the one-party system, the two-party system, and our own — a multiparty system, where parties often work through alliances or fronts. Remember how the Election Commission decides who's a State party and who's a national party? It's based on votes and seats won. We also met real examples — BJP, INC, BSP, and a few others. After that, we spoke about four big challenges parties face. There's lack of internal democracy, dynastic succession, the power of money and muscle, and not giving voters a real choice. Finally, we saw the reforms already in place — the anti-defection law, candidate affidavits, and Election Commission rules. And we talked about suggestions too, like a women's quota in tickets, and state funding of elections. Citizens joining parties and pressuring them — that can help reform politics too. So, tell me — out of all these challenges, which one do you think affects voters the most?
AskMedha · Medha Ma’am — CBSE Class 10 Social Science, Chapter 4. Written from the textbook, checked twice.
Questions parents and students ask
- How do I get the "Political Parties" notes as a PDF?
- Press "Save as PDF" — the phone’s print sheet opens; choose "Save as PDF" there. The PDF holds the notes only.
- Where are these notes written from?
- From the chapter’s own textbook text, part by part, in the book’s own terms; a second, independent model then checked every part against the book. The full lesson, a check question for each part and the practice are in the AskMedha app.
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