Power Sharing | Class 10 Social Science Notes
By ConceptScroll Team · Published on 17 July 2026 · 4 min read
Power Sharing – this guide gives you a concise, exam-ready overview of Power Sharing from Class 10 Social Science, written by ConceptScroll editors and reviewed against the latest NCERT textbook.
Majoritarianism in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka gained independence in 1948, but the Sinhalese majority sought to secure dominance over the government based on their numerical majority. This led to the adoption of majoritarian policies aimed at establishing Sinhala supremacy. In 1956, the government passed an Act making Sinhala the only official language, disregarding Tamil. Preferential policies favored Sinhalese applicants in university admissions and government jobs. The constitution also mandated protection and fostering of Buddhism, the religion of the Sinhalese majority.
These measures alienated the Tamil minority, who felt discriminated against politically, culturally, and economically. Tamil demands for official recognition of their language, regional autonomy, and equal opportunities were repeatedly denied. This led to growing tensions and eventually to the formation of political groups demanding an independent Tamil state called Tamil Eelam in the northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka.
The distrust escalated into a civil war lasting decades, causing thousands of deaths, displacement, and severe social and economic disruption. The civil war ended in 2009 but left deep scars. This example demonstrates how refusal to share power and majoritarian dominance can undermine national unity and peace.
📊 Diagram: See figure_4 and figure_5: Images illustrating the majoritarian policies and conflict in Sri Lanka; See figure_6: Tamil Eelam (state) in northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka.
🔗 Connection: Contrasts with Belgium’s accommodation approach to power-sharing.
Frequently asked questions
Here are some examples of power sharing. Which of the four types of power sharing do these represent? Who is sharing power with whom? - The Bombay High Court ordered the Maharashtra State Government to immediately take action and improve living conditions for the 2,000-odd children at seven children's homes in Mumbai. - The government of Ontario state in Canada has agreed to a land claim settlement with the aboriginal community. The Minister responsible for Native Affairs announced that the government will work with aboriginal people in a spirit of mutual respect and cooperation. - Russia's two influential political parties, the Union of Right Forces and the Liberal Yabloko Movement, agreed to unite their organisations into a strong right-wing coalition. They propose to have a common list of candidates in the next parliamentary elections. - The finance ministers of various states in Nigeria got together and demanded that the federal government declare its sources of income. They also wanted to know the formula by which the revenue is distributed to various State Governments.
1. Bombay High Court and Maharashtra State Government: This represents power sharing among different organs of government (Judiciary and Executive). 2. Ontario government and aboriginal community: This is power sharing between governments at different levels or between government and social groups, representing community government or federalism. 3. Russia's political parties uniting: This is power sharing among political parties, i.e., coalition government. 4. Finance ministers of Nigerian stat
1. What are the different forms of power sharing in modern democracies? Give an example of each of these.
The different forms of power sharing in modern democracies are:
1. Power sharing among different organs of government (e.g., Legislature, Executive, Judiciary in India). 2. Power sharing among governments at different levels (e.g., Federal government and State governments in India). 3. Power sharing among different social groups (e.g., reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in India). 4. Power sharing among different political parties (e.g., coalition governments formed
2. State one prudential reason and one moral reason for power sharing with an example from the Indian context.
Prudential reason: Power sharing reduces the possibility of conflict among different communities. For example, India's federal system allows different states to have their own governments, reducing tensions among linguistic groups.
Moral reason: Power sharing is the only way to ensure that all groups get a share in power and are treated as equals. For example, reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in legislatures ensures their representation and equality.
3. After reading this chapter, three students drew different conclusions. Which of these do you agree with and why? Give your reasons in about 50 words. Thomman - Power sharing is necessary only in societies which have religious, linguistic or ethnic divisions. Mathayi - Power sharing is suitable only for big countries that have regional divisions. Ouseph - Every society needs some form of power sharing even if it is small or does not have social divisions.
I agree with Ouseph's view that every society needs some form of power sharing even if it is small or does not have social divisions. Power sharing promotes democracy by ensuring participation, reducing arbitrariness, and accommodating diversity in all societies, regardless of size or divisions.
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