Social Science (087) — CBSE Class 10 board question

Five Major Challenges Faced by Political Parties in India:

1. Lack of Internal Democracy: Power is concentrated in the hands of one leader or family. Ordinary members have little say in decision-making. There is no transparency in party affairs.

1. Dynastic Succession: Top positions are passed on to family members of the leader rather than to capable and deserving party workers.

1. Money and Muscle Power: Parties tend to choose candidates who can raise large funds or who have criminal connections, sidelining honest candidates.

1. No Meaningful Choice: Ideological differences between parties are shrinking. Parties frequently switch policies, making it difficult for voters to choose on the basis of principles.

1. Lack of Trust among People: Political parties are one of the least trusted institutions. They are often rocked by scandals involving top leaders, reducing public confidence in the democratic process.

Source: Democratic Politics – II, Chapter 4

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• Examiners expect five distinct, named challenges — one point per mark.
• Each point should have a heading + 1–2 lines of explanation. Avoid bullet points without explanation.
• Key terms to use: dynastic succession, internal democracy, money and muscle power, ideological difference, public trust.
• Do not copy definitions; write in your own words for better marks.