Q1. [4]
Forms of power sharing
The idea of power sharing has emerged in opposition to the notions of undivided political power. For a long time, it was believed that all power of a government must reside in one person or group of persons located at one place. It was felt that if the power to decide is dispersed, it would not be possible to take quick decisions and to enforce them. But these notions have changed with the emergence of democracy. One basic principle of democracy is that people are the source of all political power. In a democracy, people rule themselves through institutions of self-government. In a good democratic government, due respect is given to diverse groups and views that exist in a society. Everyone has a voice in the shaping of public policies. Therefore, it follows that in a democracy, political power should be distributed among as many citizens as possible.
Read the given source carefully and answer the questions that follow :
- (27.1) Why should all the powers of the government not be in the hands of one person ? [1]
- (27.2) Why is power sharing necessary ? [1]
- (27.3) How does governing through institutions of self-government strengthen democracy ? Explain. [2]
Previously asked in CBSE board exam
2026 32/3/1 Q27
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-15 07:01 · grounding stimulus
Model Answer
(27.1) If all power is concentrated in one person, quick decisions may be taken but diverse groups and views in society get no voice, which is against the basic principles of democracy.
(27.2) Power sharing is necessary because people are the source of all political power in a democracy. Distributing power among as many citizens as possible ensures everyone has a voice in shaping public policies.
(27.3) When people rule themselves through institutions of self-government, it ensures that diverse groups and views in society receive due respect. Every citizen gets a voice in shaping public policies. This prevents concentration of power in one place and makes governance more inclusive and representative, thereby strengthening democracy.
Source: Chapter 1 – Power Sharing, Forms of Power Sharing
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Explanation
- 27.1 is 1 mark — one line linking concentrated power to lack of voice/democratic deficit.
- 27.2 is 1 mark — quote the core principle (people = source of power) and link to distribution.
- 27.3 is 2 marks — needs two connected points: (i) respect for diverse groups/views, and (ii) voice in public policy-making. Examiners look for both ideas from the passage. Don't add outside knowledge; stick to the extract.
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