Political Parties (Indian Polity and Governance)

Total Questions: 54

31. Consider the following statements: [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 1998]

Assertion (A): The coalition government led by Bharatiya Janata Party contains some policy guidance in the National agenda, some promises and few guiding principles for its governance.
Reason (R): It discusses a lot of things in detail.

Which one of the following is correct in context to above statements.

Correct Answer: (b) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not a correct explanation of (A).
Solution:Coalition Governments may contain many parties. As a result, the Government has to take care of the feelings of all the parties included in the Government. Thus, (R) and (A) are both correct but (R) is not a correct explanation of (A).

Political parties are voluntary associations or organized groups of individuals who share similar political views and seek power through constitutional means to advance national interests.
In modern democratic states, there are four types of political parties
1. Reactionary parties that cling to the old socio-economic and political institutions
2. Conservative parties that believe in the status quo
3. Liberal parties that aim to change and reform the existing institutions
4. Radical parties aim to establish a new order by overthrowing the existing institutions
Following the ideologies, political parties are also categorized. Political scientists have positioned conservative and reactionary parties on the right, liberal parties in the middle, and radical parties on the left.

32. In which of the following state a regional party is not in power? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1997]

Correct Answer: (d) Kerala
Solution:In Kerala, the Government by Congress or the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has been formed alternatively. Both of these parties are national parties. Under Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, the then Jammu and Kashmir has been divided into two Union Territories namely Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. So, at present Jammu and Kashmir is not a state.

The Communist Party of India (CPI), founded in 1920, advocated radical societal changes inspired by Marxist and socialist ideals. Founders like M.N. Roy and Abani Mukherji established CPI in Tashkent after the second Congress of the Comintern, reflecting growing discontent among young nationalists seeking alternatives to Gandhian non-violence principles.
Throughout the 1920s, the CPI played a vital role in the national movement, organising workers' and peasants' parties while facing government crackdowns, including the Meerut conspiracy case in 1929. Despite these challenges, the CPI collaborated with the Indian National Congress, promoting Marxist and communist ideals and significantly influencing India's struggle for independence.

33. Given below are two statements, one labelled as Assertion (A) and the other labelled as Reason (R): [I.A.S. (Pre) 1994]

Assertion (A): In India, the political parties which formed the governments represented the majority of seats secured in elections to the House of the People at the Centre and the Legislative Assemblies in the States but not the majority of votes.
Reason (R): The result of elections based on the majority-vote-system is decided on the basis of the relative majority of votes secured.

In the context of the above two statements which one of the following is correct?

Correct Answer: (a) Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Solution:Here both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A), because in India majority does not depend upon the majority of votes but on the majority of seats. Election of winning candidates depends upon a relative majority of votes and not on the total majority of votes.

Political parties are voluntary associations or organized groups of individuals who share similar political views and seek power through constitutional means to advance national interests.
In modern democratic states, there are four types of political parties
1. Reactionary parties that cling to the old socio-economic and political institutions
2. Conservative parties that believe in the status quo
3. Liberal parties that aim to change and reform the existing institutions
4. Radical parties aim to establish a new order by overthrowing the existing institutions
Following the ideologies, political parties are also categorized. Political scientists have positioned conservative and reactionary parties on the right, liberal parties in the middle, and radical parties on the left.

34. Given below are two statements, one labelled as Assertion (A) and the other labelled as Reason (R). [I.A.S. (Pre) 1997]

Assertion (A): The reservation of thirty-three percent of seats for women in Parliament and State Legislature does not require a Constitutional amendment.
Reason (R): Political parties contesting elections can allocate thirty-three percent of seats they contest to women candidates without any Constitutional amendment.

In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?

Correct Answer: (d) (A) is false but, (R) is true.
Solution:Article 330 to 334 of the Indian Constitution provisions for the reservation of some special classes in the House of People and State Legislative Assemblies. There is no provision made for women; thus, the reservation of 33% of seats for women in the Parliament and State Legislature can be made only by the Constitutional Amendment. So, Assertion (A) is incorrect while the Reason (R) is correct.

35. Consider the following statements: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2010]

Assertion (A): There is no fixed party system in India.
Reason (R): There are too many political parties.
Select the correct answer from the code given below:

Correct Answer: (a) Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Solution:Democracy in India is passing through a period of transition. Casteism and regionalism are still the dominating elements in India. Various political parties are formed by the regional leaders to meet various interests, but this is not the only reason behind having multi-party system in India. There are other socio-economic reasons which are also affecting the party system in India.

36. The party system is the part of which larger system among the following? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2012]

Correct Answer: (c) Political system
Solution:The Party system is the part of the political system. The formation and running of the Government in a democratic political system is performed by party system (Political Parties).

Political parties are voluntary associations or organized groups of individuals who share similar political views and seek power through constitutional means to advance national interests.
In modern democratic states, there are four types of political parties
1. Reactionary parties that cling to the old socio-economic and political institutions
2. Conservative parties that believe in the status quo
3. Liberal parties that aim to change and reform the existing institutions
4. Radical parties aim to establish a new order by overthrowing the existing institutions
Following the ideologies, political parties are also categorized. Political scientists have positioned conservative and reactionary parties on the right, liberal parties in the middle, and radical parties on the left.

37. Study the following statements and select the correct answer from the code given below: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) (Re. Exam) 2015]

Assertion (A): India has a written Constitution.
Reason (R): Growth of strong regional parties is an indicator of regional aspirations.

Correct Answer: (b) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
Solution:India has a written Constitution. Thus, Assertion (A) is correct. Strong regional parties grow to meet regional aspirations. These regional parties raise the problems of the region and stress on increasing the facilities of that region. As a result, the regional public directs towards them. Thus, Reason (R) is also correct. But the reason (R) is not the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).

38. Which of the following may be considered a Pressure Group? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2017]

Correct Answer: (d) Members of a Trade Union
Solution:A pressure group can be described as an organised group that does not put up candidates for election, but seeks to influence government policy or legislation. These groups can also be described as 'interest groups', 'lobby groups' etc. Trade Union, Farmer's Organisation, Women Organisations, Business organisation etc are included in pressure groups.

39. Inner-Party Democracy stands for— [U.P. Lower Sub. (Spl) (Pre) 2004]

Correct Answer: (c) Periodical elections within the party to elect the office bearers of the party
Solution:Inner-Party democracy stands for periodical elections within the party to elect the office bearers of the party.

Election commission's guidelines

  • Representation of the People Act: ECI has periodically used guidelines issued for registration of parties under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 to remind parties to conduct elections and to ensure that their leadership is renewed, changed or re-elected every five years.
  • No Permanent President for a Party: ECI has opposed the concept of a 'permanent president within political parties, as it undermines the principle of leadership change and fair representation within parties.
  • Party constitution: The EC's guidelines for parties applying for registration under the Act state that the applicant should submit a copy of the party constitution.

40. Who among the following scholars described the party system prevailing in India in the early years of Independence as one party dominant system? [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]

Correct Answer: (b) Rajni Kothari
Solution:Rajni Kothari has described the party system prevailing in India in the early years of Independence as one party dominant system. Rajni Kothari was a political scientist and writer. Kothari noted works include 'Politics in India', 'Caste in Indian Politics' and 'Rethinking Democracy.'

Political parties are voluntary associations or organized groups of individuals who share similar political views and seek power through constitutional means to advance national interests.
In modern democratic states, there are four types of political parties
1. Reactionary parties that cling to the old socio-economic and political institutions
2. Conservative parties that believe in the status quo
3. Liberal parties that aim to change and reform the existing institutions
4. Radical parties aim to establish a new order by overthrowing the existing institutions
Following the ideologies, political parties are also categorized. Political scientists have positioned conservative and reactionary parties on the right, liberal parties in the middle, and radical parties on the left.