NCERT Solutions for Chapter 5 Popular Struggles and Movements Class 10 Civics
Book Solutions1
In what ways do pressure groups and movements exert influence on politics?
Answer
• They try to gain public support and sympathy for their cause by carrying out information campaigns, organising meetings, filing petitions, etc.
• They hold meetings and use the media to draw the attention to their issue.
• By organising strikes and disruptions, they seek to make the government take note of their demands.
• They often employ professionals to promote their interests or by lobbying.
• They sometimes become members of official bodies and committees and tender advice to the government.
Exercises
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2
Describe the forms of relationship between pressure groups and political parties?
Answer
The relationship between political parties and pressure groups is both direct and indirect:
• Pressure groups are often formed and led by politicians and political parties. Most trade unions and students’ organisations in India are either established by, or affiliated to one or the other major political party.
• Many a times, the issues raised by pressure or movement groups are taken up by political parties, leading to a change in the policies of the parties.
• Political parties sometimes grow out of movements. Parties like DMK and AIADMK were formed this way.
Exercises
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3
Explain how the activities of pressure groups are useful in the functioning of a democratic government.
Answer
• Pressure groups are important in the functioning of a democratic government as they provide an opportunity for marginalised people to voice their opinions. They help in the deepening of democracy.• As long as everyone gets the opportunity, putting pressure on the rulers is not an unhealthy activity in a democracy.
• In some cases, the government’s opinion might be biased by a small group of rich and powerful people.
• Pressure groups perform a useful role of countering this undue influence of reminding the government of the needs and concerns of ordinary citizens.
Exercises
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4
What is a pressure group? Give a few examples.
Answer
A pressure group is an organisation which attempts to influence government policies through protests and demonstrations. Pressure groups are formed when people with similar opinions get together for similar objectives. Examples of pressure groups are FEDECOR and BAMCEF.
Exercises
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5
What is the difference between a pressure group and a political party?
Answer
A pressure group is an organised and unorganised group which tries to influence government policies to promote its interests. They achieve their aims by exerting pressure on the government. Generally, the members of these groups are those people who have some common interests. They try to control the power with their influence. Pressure groups never try to contest elections but try to indirectly control the power.
A political party on the other hand, is an organised body which tries to attain political power of the country by contesting direct elections and win by ideology. Members of one political party have their common goals and common ideology.
Exercises
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6
Organisations that undertake activities to promote the interests of specific social sections such as workers, employees, teachers, and lawyers are called _____________________ groups.
Answer
sectional interest
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7
Which among the following is the special feature that distinguishes a pressure group from a political party?
(a) Parties take political stances, while pressure groups do not bother about political issues.
(b) Pressure groups are confined to a few people, while parties involve larger number of people.
(c) Pressure groups do not seek to get into power, while political parties do.
(d) Pressure groups do not seek to mobilise people, while parties do.
Answer
(c) Pressure groups do not seek to get into power, while political parties do.
Exercises
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8
Match List I (organisations and struggles) with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:
List I | List II | ||
1. | Organisations that seek to promote the interests of a particular section or group | Α. | Movement |
2. | Organisations that seek to promote common interest | Β. | Political parties |
3. | Struggles launched for the resolution of a social problem with or without an organisational structure | C. | Sectional interest groups |
4. | Organisations that mobilise people with a view to win political power | D. | Public interest groups |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
(a) | C | D | B | A |
(b) | C | D | A | B |
(c) | D | C | B | A |
(d) | B | C | D | A |
Answer
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
(b) | C | D | A | B |
Exercises
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9
Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:
List I | List II | ||
1. | Pressure group | Α. | Narmada Bachao Andolan |
2. | Long-term movement | Β. | Asom Gana Parishad |
3. | Single issue movement | C. | Women’s Movement |
4. | Political party | D. | Fertilizer dealers’ association |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
(a) | D | C | A | B |
(b) | B | A | D | C |
(c) | C | D | B | A |
(d) | B | D | C | A |
Answer
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
(a) | D | C | A | B |
Exercises
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10
Consider the following statements about pressure groups and parties.
A. Pressure groups are the organised expression of the interests and views of specific social sections.
B. Pressure groups take positions on political issues.
C. All pressure groups are political parties.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) A, B, and C
(b) A and B
(c) B and C
(d) A and C
Answer
(b) A and B
Exercises
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11
Mewat is one of the most backward areas in Haryana. It used to be a part of two districts, Gurgaon and Faridabad. The people of Mewat felt that the area will get better attention if it were to become a separate district. But political parties were indifferent to this sentiment. The demand for a separate district was raised
by Mewat Educational and Social Organisation and Mewat Saksharta Samiti in 1996. Later, Mewat Vikas Sabha was founded in 2000 and carried out a series of public awareness campaigns. This forced both the major parties, Congress and the Indian National Lok Dal, to announe their support for the new district before the assembly elections held in February 2005. The new district came into existence in July 2005.
In this example what is the relationship that you observe among movement, political parties and the government? Can you think of an example that shows a relationship different from this one?
Answer
Exercises
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