CBSE · Class 10 · Political Science · Chapter 1
Power-sharing — Class 10 Political Science (CBSE) explained
- Board exam 2026-27
- 5 lessons
- 35 scenes
- About 28 min
- Updated
Quick answer
Power-sharing is Chapter 1 of CBSE Class 10 Political Science. It covers Belgium’s population, Sri Lanka’s population, Belgium’s regions and capital, comparative conclusion, coalition government and prudential justification. AI Lessons teaches it in 5 narrated lessons (about 28 minutes) with an AI tutor and board-pattern practice.
What you’ll learn
Lesson 1: Diversity and the Challenge of Majority Rule
5 min- Democracy Does Not Place All Power in One Hand
- Belgium: A Small Country with a Complex Composition
- A Majority in Belgium, a Minority in Brussels
- Does Sharing Power Necessarily Weaken a Country?
- Sri Lanka: Language, Origins and Religion
- A Numerical Majority Is Not a Right to Disregard Others
- Sri Lanka’s Majoritarian Measures
Lesson 2: Conflict and Accommodation
6 min- From Alienation to Civil War
- What Is Wrong with Majority Domination?
- Belgium: Equal Ministers and Shared Consent
- Regional Powers and Equal Representation in Brussels
- Community Government: Sharing Beyond Territory
- Investigate Whether Conflicts Involve Power-sharing
- Two Democracies, Contrasting Responses
Lesson 3: Why Democracy Needs Power-sharing
5 min- Rival Parties Can Govern Together
- Prudential Reasons: Better Outcomes
- Moral Reasons: The Spirit of Democracy
- Whose Language Request Is More Likely to Succeed?
- Khalil’s Dilemma: A Pact to Preserve Peace
- Peace and Equal Political Opportunity
- People Are the Source of Political Power
Lesson 4: Four Forms of Power-sharing
6 min- Form 1: Different Organs Check One Another
- Democracy and Concentrated Power
- Form 2: Governments at Different Levels
- Form 3: Give Diverse Social Groups a Share
- Form 4: Competition, Coalitions and Influence
- Does Changing a Monitor Show Power-sharing?
- Find the Relationship in Each Case
Lesson 5: Apply, Explain and Practise
6 min- Power-sharing Is Not Only for Large or Divided Societies
- Does a Language Ban Fit Belgium’s Spirit?
- Separate Outcomes from Democratic Value
- Select the Arguments in Favour
- Check What Actually Happened
- Match Each Form to Its Arrangement
- Recap: Need, Challenges, Forms and Practice
Key concepts
- Belgium’s population
- Ethnic refers to a social division based on shared culture. People may believe in a common descent because of similarities of physical type or culture.
- Sri Lanka’s population
- Among Tamils, natives of the country are called Sri Lankan Tamils. They form thirteen per cent of the population and are concentrated in the north and east.
- Belgium’s regions and capital
- Many powers of the Central Government are given to State Governments in the country’s two regions.
- Comparative conclusion
- Belgium and Sri Lanka are both democracies, but they respond differently to demands for power-sharing.
- Coalition government
- The important feature is that rival parties share governmental power while their political differences remain.
- Prudential justification
- Prudential means based on careful calculation of gains and losses.
- Form 1: different organs check one another
- The important relationship is between different organs at the same level.
- Form 2: Governments at different levels
- Sharing between higher and lower levels is called vertical division of power. Not every country has provincial or State Governments, so this arrangement is not universal.
- Does a language ban Fit Belgium’s Spirit?
- Belgium’s accommodation respects the feelings and interests of different communities. Community government also handles educational and language-related issues.
- Separate outcomes from Democratic value
- Restoring power to the people and establishing true democracy point to democratic value. Reducing corruption and increasing administrative efficiency point to better outcomes.
Exam focus
- Board exam
- CBSE assesses this chapter in the 2026-27 year-end board examination.
- Syllabus
- Power-sharing. Learning outcomes: enumerate the need for power sharing in democracy; analyse the challenges faced by countries like Belgium and Sri Lanka ensuring effective power sharing; compare and contrast the power sharing of India with Sri Lanka and Belgium; summarise the purpose of power sharing in preserving the unity and stability of a country.
- Exam note
- Board-assessed in full (Political Science 20 marks). sample paper items: assertion-reason on forms of power sharing, prudential vs moral reasons, 2-mark Belgium centre-state sharing.
- Paper pattern
- Social Science (087): 80 marks, 3 hours, 38 questions, all compulsory, in four sections of 20 marks each (A History, B Geography, C Political Science, D Economics); internal assessment 20. Section C Political Science 20 marks from all five chapters of Democratic Politics - II (Power-sharing, Federalism, Gender Religion and Caste, Political Parties, Outcomes of Democracy). 2026-27 sample paper Section C: 4 MCQs (one assertion-reason, one cartoon-based), 2 VSA (2), 1 SA (3), 1 LA (5), 1 case-based (4). No map items. Word limits: VSA 2 marks <=40 words, SA 3 marks <=60 words, LA 5 marks <=120 words, case-based 4 marks (three sub-questions) <=100 words. Whole-paper type weightage: MCQs 20x1 (inclusive of assertion-reason, differentiation and stem), 2-mark 4x2, 3-mark 5x3, case study 3x4, 5-mark 4x5, map pointing 5. Internal choice in a few questions only.
- Question style
- Weightage to competency levels (whole paper): Remembering and Understanding 24 marks (30%); Applying 11 (13.25%); Analysing, Evaluating and Creating 40 (50%); Map skill 5 (6.25%).
- Practice in the app
- 128 board-pattern questions with marking schemes: 37 multiple choice (1 mark), 19 assertion–reason (1 mark), 30 very short answer (2 marks), 23 short answer (3 marks), 5 long answer (5 marks) and 14 case-based (4 marks).
Sample questions with marking points
Board-pattern questions from the AI Lessons practice set for this chapter. The marking points show what an examiner looks for; full model answers are in the app.
Very short answer2 marks
A student says that criticising Sri Lanka's majoritarian policies means Sinhala speakers should have no role in government. Reject this claim with two reasons.
Marking points
- Distinguishes criticism of disregarding minority interests from denying the majority community participation in government.1
- Explains that government should respect and accommodate minority language, culture and equal rights rather than impose community domination.1
Short answer3 marks
In a public debate, a speaker claims that power-sharing produces political instability and weakens national unity. Refute the claim with three arguments.
Marking points
- Reduced social conflict lowers the risk of violence and political instability.1
- Accommodation of different communities' interests helps preserve national unity.1
- Checks and balances limit authority and reduce arbitrary exercise of power.1
Long answer5 marks
Evaluate the claim: 'A numerical majority makes safeguards against concentrated power and representation of other groups unnecessary.' Give five arguments using arrangements in India and the experiences of Belgium and Sri Lanka.
Marking points
- Indian horizontal power-sharing: executive accountability to Parliament or judicial checks limit concentrated authority.1
- Vertical power-sharing: constitutional Union-State division in India, with a relevant comparison to empowered, non-subordinate Belgian State Governments.1
- Indian reserved constituencies provide representation to socially weaker sections rather than relying solely on numerical strength.1
- Belgian accommodation, supported by a specific arrangement such as equal ministerial representation or community government, helped avoid linguistic division.1
- Sri Lankan majoritarian policies increased Tamil alienation and conflict, showing that refusal to share power can undermine unity.1
Frequently asked questions
What does Power-sharing cover in Class 10 Political Science?
It covers Belgium’s population, Sri Lanka’s population, Belgium’s regions and capital, comparative conclusion, coalition government and prudential justification. AI Lessons teaches it in 5 lessons: Diversity and the Challenge of Majority Rule, Conflict and Accommodation, Why Democracy Needs Power-sharing, Four Forms of Power-sharing and Apply, Explain and Practise.
Is Power-sharing in the CBSE Class 10 board exam?
Yes. CBSE assesses Power-sharing in the 2026-27 year-end board examination.
Which arrangement reflects an important feature of the design of democracy?
The legislature, executive and judiciary share governmental power. Democratic design involves sharing power among the legislature, executive and judiciary.
What are Sri Lankan Tamils?
Among Tamils, natives of the country are called Sri Lankan Tamils.
Which policy formed part of Sri Lanka's majoritarian approach after independence?
Preference for Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs. Preferential policies favoured Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs.
What are State Governments in India?
Provincial or regional governments are called State Governments in India. The constitution clearly lays down the powers of these different levels.
What is vertical division of power?
Sharing between higher and lower levels is called vertical division of power. Not every country has provincial or State Governments, so this arrangement is not universal.
How does AI Lessons teach Power-sharing?
As 5 narrated, animated lessons (35 scenes, about 28 minutes in all), with an AI tutor that knows the step you are on and board-pattern practice with marking schemes. The full lessons open after sign-in on an AI Lessons account.
Watch the full lesson
Power-sharing, as a narrated, animated lesson
5 lessons · 35 animated scenes · about 28 minutes, with an AI tutor that knows the moment you are on and 128 board-pattern questions with marking schemes.
Lessons open after sign-in. A parent or guardian holds the account and adds each child.