Social Science (087) — CBSE Class 10 board question

India adopted the multiparty system due to the following reasons:

1. Social and geographical diversity: India is a vast country with enormous social, regional, linguistic and cultural diversity. This diversity cannot be absorbed by just two or three parties.

1. Federal structure: India follows a federal system, which naturally leads to the growth of both national and regional/state parties representing local interests.

1. Coalition governments: In a multiparty system, various parties form alliances to come to power, allowing a variety of interests and opinions to enjoy political representation.

1. Historical evolution: Party systems are not chosen — they evolve over time based on a country's history, social divisions and electoral system. India's unique circumstances led to the multiparty system.

Source: Chapter 4, "How many parties should we have?"

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• The examiner expects 3-4 distinct points for a 3-mark question — one point per mark roughly.
• The key phrase from the textbook is: "India has evolved a multiparty system because the social and geographical diversity in such a large country is not easily absorbed by two or even three parties." — include this idea.
• Avoid writing a long essay; keep each point crisp and 1–2 lines.
• The idea that party systems evolve, not chosen is an important examiner-favourite point.