Social Science (087) — CBSE Class 10 board question

| Basis | Democracy | Dictatorship |
|-------|-----------|--------------|
| Power | Power is distributed among citizens and institutions; people are the source of all political power. | Power rests with one person or a group; decisions are imposed without public consent. |
| Rights & Dignity | Promotes equality, enhances dignity of individuals, and guarantees citizens' rights. | Citizens' rights are often suppressed; social differences may be ignored or crushed. |

Both forms can achieve economic growth, but democracy additionally ensures conflict resolution, correction of mistakes, and accommodation of social diversity.

Source: Chapter 5 (Outcomes of Democracy); Chapter 1 (Forms of Power-sharing)

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• Examiners expect a contrast format (table or point-wise) for "differentiate" questions — it earns full marks efficiently.
• Key contrast points from the textbook: source of power, treatment of citizens' rights/dignity, and handling of social differences.
• The closing sentence adds value by using the textbook's own nuanced position (dictatorship ≠ always worse economically) — shows understanding beyond rote learning.
• Avoid writing long paragraphs; a neat 2-point table with a one-line summary fits a 2-mark answer perfectly.