Political Parties | Class 10 Social Science Notes
By ConceptScroll Team · Published on 17 July 2026 · 2 min read
Political Parties – this guide gives you a concise, exam-ready overview of Political Parties from Class 10 Social Science, written by ConceptScroll editors and reviewed against the latest NCERT textbook.
Political Parties in India
India has a vibrant and diverse political party system with parties operating at both national and state levels. National parties have a presence across many states and participate in national elections. Examples include the Indian National Congress (INC), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M), and National People's Party (NPP). State parties operate mainly within one state and focus on regional issues. India’s multi-party system reflects its social, cultural, and linguistic diversity. Political parties in India have different ideologies and represent various social groups, including caste, religion, and economic classes. The Indian National Congress, founded in 1885, played a dominant role in the freedom struggle and post-independence politics. The BJP, founded in 1980, aims to build a strong and modern India. The CPI-M believes in Marxism-Leninism and socialism. The NPP is the first national party from Northeast India. These parties compete in elections, form governments, and contribute to the democratic process. Coalitions are common in India due to the presence of many parties, requiring cooperation among them to form governments.
📊 Diagram: See figure_20: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP); figure_21: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP); figure_22: Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPI-M); figure_23: Indian National Congress (INC); figure_24: National People's Party (NPP); figure_25: Map not to scale showing party presence.
🔗 Connection: This section leads to the discussion on challenges faced by political parties in India, which affect their functioning and the democratic process.
Frequently asked questions
1. State the various functions political parties perform in a democracy.
Political parties perform several functions in a democracy: they contest elections to form government, represent different sections of society, provide a platform for political participation, help in policy formulation, and hold the government accountable.
2. What are the various challenges faced by political parties?
Political parties face challenges such as influence of money and criminals, lack of internal democracy, corruption, dynastic politics, and inability to represent diverse interests effectively.
3. Suggest some reforms to strengthen parties so that they perform their functions well?
Reforms to strengthen political parties include: making internal democracy mandatory, regulating party funding, ensuring transparency in candidate selection, enforcing accountability, and encouraging greater public participation.
4. What is a political party?
A political party is a group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in the government.
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