CG Board Class 10 Social Science Chapter 14 Solutions: Democracy in Independent India and the Working of Political Institutions (स्वतंत्र भारत में लोकतंत्र और राजनीतिक संस्थाओं की कार्यप्रणाली) (2026-27)

CG Board (CGBSE / SCERT Chhattisgarh) Class 10 Social Science Solutions | 2026-27 Edition

📚 Chapter Overview:

  • Board: Chhattisgarh Board of Secondary Education (CGBSE) / CG SCERT Raipur
  • Subject & Section: Class 10 Social Science – Political Science (राजनीति विज्ञान) (2026-27 Edition)
  • Chapter 14: Democracy in Independent India and the Working of Political Institutions (स्वतंत्र भारत में लोकतंत्र और राजनीतिक संस्थाओं की कार्यप्रणाली)
  • Medium: Bilingual Solutions (English Medium + हिंदी माध्यम)

🌐 Select Language / माध्यम चुनें:

Question 1

Is it a good democratic practice for a…


📝 Question:

Is it a good democratic practice for a village to cast all its votes in favour of a particular candidate? Discuss in class

💡 Solution:

In a true democracy, every citizen possesses individual freedom of thought and the right to secret ballot. If a village casts all its votes for a single candidate voluntarily after consensus, it reflects strong community solidarity. However, if villagers cast votes en masse under pressure from village elders, local feudal lords, or caste leaders, it violates the democratic principle of individual free choice and freedom of conscience.

Question 2

Have you observed events similar to those that…


📝 Question:

Have you observed events similar to those that happened in the first general elections in any recent elections in your area? Discuss in class

💡 Solution:

Yes, during recent elections, similar events can be observed such as huge voter enthusiasm, active campaigning using symbols, extensive door-to-door voter turnout drives, setting up dedicated polling booths in remote areas, and the use of special markings/symbols to assist voters.

Question 1

What percentage of the vote did the nonCongress…


📝 Question:

What percentage of the vote did the non-Congress parties win in the first general election?

💡 Solution:

In the first general election, non-Congress parties and independent candidates together won 55 percent of the total votes cast (since the Congress party won 45 percent of the total votes).

Question 2

What percentage of Lok Sabha members belonged to…


📝 Question:

What percentage of Lok Sabha members belonged to the non-Congress parties?

💡 Solution:

Non-Congress parties and independents won 26 percent of the seats in the Lok Sabha (since the Congress party won 74 percent of the Lok Sabha seats).

Question 3

What do you think were the conditions that…


📝 Question:

What do you think were the conditions that led to the dominance of a single party in Indian politics from 1947 to 1967?

💡 Solution:

The primary conditions responsible for Congress dominance were

  1. Legacy of Freedom Struggle: The Congress was seen as the primary organizational vehicle that won India’s independence under revered national leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru.
  2. Inclusive Platform (“Rainbow Coalition”): Congress accommodated diverse ideological streams, social classes, castes, and regional interests within its inner structure.
  3. Widespread Network: It had a deeply entrenched grass-roots organizational presence across urban and rural India, whereas opposition parties were fragmented and geographically limited.

Question 4

What are your views on the importance of…


📝 Question:

What are your views on the importance of a multi-party system in a democracy?

💡 Solution:

A multi-party system is essential for a vibrant democracy because

  1. It prevents single-party authoritarianism and keeps the ruling government accountable.
  2. It provides structured political representation to diverse social, regional, linguistic, and minority groups.
  3. It offers voters genuine political choices and alternative policy visions.

Q7

At the time of gaining independence it was…


📝 Question:

At the time of gaining independence, it was felt that abolition of the zamindari system would be an important step for the country. What changes in society do you think this measure brought?

💡 Solution:

The abolition of the zamindari system brought transformative social and economic changes

  1. Direct relationship was established between the state and peasant tillers, freeing millions from forced labor (begar) and arbitrary evictions.
  2. Millions of tenant farmers obtained legal ownership rights (pattas) over land, boosting agricultural motivation and rural self-respect.
  3. The socio-political dominance of feudal lords (zamindars, malguzars, gauntiyas) in rural areas was significantly broken, enabling lower and middle caste peasantry to participate actively in democratic politics.

Q8

If these four laws had not been passed…


📝 Question:

If these four laws had not been passed, what impact would it have had on the condition of women?

💡 Solution:

If the Hindu Code laws had not been passed

  1. Women would have remained deprived of equal inheritance rights in ancestral property.
  2. Women would not have had legal recourse to seek divorce or escape abusive marriages.
  3. Polygamy by men would have continued legally, while women remained legally subordinate and economically dependent.

Question 2

What role can intercaste marriages play in helping…


📝 Question:

What role can inter-caste marriages play in helping to break the caste system? Has this law affected the caste system in any way?

💡 Solution:

Role**: Inter-caste marriages break the traditional endogamic boundaries of caste, erode notions of ritual purity and pollution, and foster kinship ties across different communities.

  • Impact: Legalizing inter-caste marriage under the Hindu Code Bill provided legal protection to couples and weakened rigid traditional caste sanctions, contributing significantly to modern social mobility.

Question 3

Do you think your brothers and sisters should…


📝 Question:

Do you think your brothers and sisters should receive an equal share in your family property?

💡 Solution:

Yes, brothers and sisters should receive equal shares in family property. Equal property rights ensure gender justice, economic independence for women, and uphold the constitutional guarantee of equality without discrimination based on gender.

Q11

Imagine a situation where linguistic states had not…


📝 Question:

Imagine a situation where linguistic states had not been created. What would the map of India have looked like?

💡 Solution:

If linguistic states had not been created, the map of India would have consisted of large, administrative colonial-era provinces (like Madras Presidency, Bombay State, CP & Berar) containing multiple conflicting linguistic groups. This would have led to persistent internal language agitations, administrative inefficiency, and severe separatist movements.

Question 2

Doesnt the idea of linguistic states ignore adivasi…


📝 Question:

Doesn’t the idea of linguistic states ignore adivasi languages? What do you think?

💡 Solution:

Yes, the initial creation of states strictly based on major scheduled regional languages often subordinated non-script adivasi languages (such as Gondi, Halbi, Kurukh, Santhali) within larger state boundaries. This resulted in long-standing demands for separate tribal states, eventually leading to the creation of states like Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand in 2000.

Question 3

Many new states were created in India after…


📝 Question:

Many new states were created in India after 2000. What was the basis on which they were formed? Find out with the help of your teacher

💡 Solution:

New states formed after 2000 (Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, and Telangana in 2014) were formed primarily on the basis of regional economic backwardness, distinct cultural/tribal identity, geographical topography, and administrative convenience, rather than language alone.

Q14

Do you think governments should act to bring…


📝 Question:

Do you think governments should act to bring equality and economic development in society? What impact will this have on politics? Discuss in the class

💡 Solution:

Yes, in a welfare state, the government must actively intervene through progressive taxation, land reforms, public sector investments, and welfare schemes to reduce poverty and inequality. Politically, this empowers marginalized sections, deepens democratic participation, and shifts political debate from narrow feudal interests to socio-economic development policies.

Q15

Was the declaration of a state of emergency…


📝 Question:

Was the declaration of a state of emergency justified or not? Discuss with the help of your teacher

💡 Solution:

The declaration of Internal Emergency on June 25, 1975, was unjustified. While the ruling government argued that student protests and strikes created internal instability, the real motive was to circumvent the Allahabad High Court verdict that invalidated Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s election and to suppress legitimate democratic opposition.

Question 2

What impact did the declaration of emergency have…


📝 Question:

What impact did the declaration of emergency have on the daily life of the people and on the opposition parties?

💡 Solution:

Impact on Daily Life**: Fundamental rights were suspended, strict press censorship was imposed, citizens faced forced sterilization drives and slum demolitions without legal recourse.

  • Impact on Opposition Parties: Thousands of opposition leaders, activists, and trade unionists were jailed without trial under preventive detention laws, forcing political organizations underground until elections were announced in 1977.

Q17

Do you think the only objective of the…


📝 Question:

Do you think the only objective of the Punjab and Assam movements was to replace the Congress government in those states or were there other more important reasons behind these movements?

💡 Solution:

No, replacing the Congress government was not the only objective. The fundamental reasons included deep-seated regional grievances

  1. Punjab Movement: Focused on state autonomy, water sharing rights (Bhakra Nangal), transferring Chandigarh to Punjab, and religious/cultural identity protection.
  2. Assam Movement: Driven by fears of economic exploitation of local oil/tea resources by outside companies and demographic imbalance caused by illegal Bangladeshi migration.

Question 2

Why do you think that India witnessed a…


📝 Question:

Why do you think that India witnessed a process of decentralisation of state power after 1950?

💡 Solution:

India witnessed decentralization because a centralized command structure could not effectively address the immense geographic, linguistic, cultural, and socio-economic diversity of India. Local self-governance was necessary to ensure equitable resource delivery, combat administrative corruption, and fulfill local aspirations.

Question 3

Do you agree with Rajiv Gandhis statement that…


📝 Question:

Do you agree with Rajiv Gandhi’s statement that the benefits of government schemes was not reaching the poor?

💡 Solution:

Yes, the observation highlighted severe administrative leakages, bureaucratic corruption, and intermediary exploitation where funds meant for rural welfare were siphoned off before reaching targeted beneficiaries.

Question 4

Do you think Panchayati Raj ushered in the…


📝 Question:

Do you think Panchayati Raj ushered in the decentralisation of power and actually led to the poor receiving greater benefits from government schemes?

💡 Solution:

Yes, the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act empowered local Panchayats by transferring developmental planning, financial implementation, and mandatory reservation for women, SCs, and STs. Direct wage transfers and local Gram Sabha monitoring significantly improved scheme transparency and delivery to the poor.

Question 1

In 1947 many political analysts felt that India…


📝 Question:

In 1947, many political analysts felt that India was not suited or ready for democracy based on universal franchise. Has the history of the past 60 years proved or disproved their fears and doubts right? How far do you think they were correct in their assessment?

💡 Solution:

History has completely disproved their pessimistic assessments. Despite high illiteracy, poverty, and vast diversity, Indian voters demonstrated mature democratic wisdom through smooth, peaceful electoral transitions of power across 17+ general elections, disproving critics who claimed democracy required wealthy and literate conditions.

Question 2

In 1947 many political analysts felt that religion…


📝 Question:

In 1947, many political analysts felt that religion was the only basis on which India could form a nation. Has the history of the past 60 years proved their fears and doubts right? How far do you think they were correct in their assessment?

💡 Solution:

History has disproved their fears. India rejected religious nationalism and built a strong nation based on secularism, constitutional democracy, and unity in diversity. Pluralism and federal accommodation proved to be far stronger foundations for national unity than religion.

Question 3

In 1976 many people felt that citizens rights…


📝 Question:

In 1976, many people felt that citizens’ rights needed to be curtailed and India could only be ruled by a dictatorship or an authoritarian leader. Do you think subsequent experiences have proved the hollowness of such claims?

💡 Solution:

Yes, subsequent experiences proved the hollowness of authoritarian claims. In the 1977 general elections, Indian voters overwhelmingly voted out the authoritarian regime, demonstrating that the people of India value civil liberties and democracy above dictatorial governance.

Question 4

What do you think are the challenges facing…


📝 Question:

What do you think are the challenges facing democratic politics in India today?

💡 Solution:

Key contemporary challenges include

  1. Influence of money power and criminalization in elections.
  2. Rise of communal polarization and identity-based vote bank politics.
  3. Economic inequality and jobless growth affecting youth.
  4. Weakening of independent constitutional oversight institutions.

  1. The first general elections in independent India were conducted in 1952 (or 1951-52).
  2. The Indian National Congress (Congress) party got an overwhelming majority in the Lok Sabha elections in 1952, 1957 and 1962.
  3. The zamindari system was abolished in 1949-56 and the tenants were given title deeds to their land.
  4. The Hindu Code Bill was first presented to the constituent assembly by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.
  5. Potti Sreeramulu undertook a fast unto death to demand the creation of a state for the Telugu-speaking people.
  6. Hindi is the official language of India.
  7. The use of scientific techniques in agriculture to increase grain production is known as the Green revolution.
  8. The ending of special privileges, titles and allowances extended to royal families after independence is called the abolition of Privy Purses.
  9. A state of emergency was declared from 25 June 1975 to March 1977 on the basis of internal civil strife.
  10. The military operations to cleanse the Golden Temple of terrorists was called Operation Blue Star.
Q25

Choose the Right Option MCQs 1 Only 15…


📝 Question:

Choose the Right Option / MCQs 1. ‘Only 15 paise in every rupee spent reaches the people.’ What did the Rajiv Gandhi government do to resolve this problem? * Options: 1. Made it compulsory for the states to implement Panchayati Raj | 2. Gave 27% reservation for Other Backward Classes | 3. Signed the Longowal-Rajiv Gandhi Accord | 4. Signed an agreement to revoke the citizenship of Bangladeshis and deport them

💡 Solution:

  1. Made it compulsory for the states to implement Panchayati Raj.**
  2. Give a larger share of water from the Sardar Sarovar dam to Punjab.* (Note: Demand was for Bhakra Nangal water).*
  3. Deporting of foreign (Bangladeshi) nationals.**
  4. Maharashtra.**
  5. Non-alignment.**
  6. China.**
  7. Mixed economy.**
  8. Soviet Russia.**
  9. Provide a separate election symbol and ballot box for each candidate.**
  10. Fear of change in the Hindu religion and social system.**

Question

Why did Dr Ambedkar resign from the cabinet…


📝 Question:

Why did Dr Ambedkar resign from the cabinet of ministers?

💡 Solution:

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar resigned from the cabinet as Law Minister because the Constituent Assembly deferred the passage of the Hindu Code Bill due to intense opposition from conservative Hindu leaders and traditional political groups, postponing it until after the first general elections.

Question 2

What opportunities did the Hindu Code Bill provide…


📝 Question:

What opportunities did the Hindu Code Bill provide for equality between men and women?

💡 Solution:

The Hindu Code Bill provided significant legal guarantees for gender equality

  1. Granted daughters and wives equal inheritance rights in undivided ancestral property alongside sons.
  2. Made bigamy/polygamy illegal for men, enforcing monogamy equally.
  3. Granted equal legal rights to women to seek divorce under specific hardship conditions.
  4. Legalized inter-caste marriages and adoption of children across castes.

Question 3

What were the fears that prevented the formulation…


📝 Question:

What were the fears that prevented the formulation of a Common Civil Code? What were the views of Ambedkar and Nehru on this issue?

💡 Solution:

Fears**: Minority religious communities (especially Muslims following partition) feared that a Uniform Civil Code would encroach upon their religious freedom, personal laws, and cultural identity.

  • Views of Ambedkar and Nehru: Both agreed that reform was necessary, but argued that a uniform code should not be imposed forcibly on minorities without their voluntary consent. They believed that passing personal law reform for Muslims right after partition would alienate them further.

Question 4

Why was language the sole basis of reorganising…


📝 Question:

Why was language the sole basis of reorganising the states? Give reasons

💡 Solution:

Language became the primary basis for state reorganisation because

  1. Colonial provinces were administrative units cut across linguistic lines.
  2. Administrative efficiency required governance and schooling in the local mother tongue.
  3. Massive popular movements (e.g., Potti Sreeramulu’s martyrdom for Andhra) demonstrated that linguistic identity was the strongest emotional bond unifying regional populations.

Question 5

What were the positive outcomes of forming states…


📝 Question:

What were the positive outcomes of forming states on a linguistic basis?

💡 Solution:

Positive outcomes included

  1. Strengthened national integration by removing linguistic disaffection and separatist fears.
  2. Enhanced democratic participation as governance and courts functioned in regional languages.
  3. Accelerated regional economic and educational growth by tailoring policies to regional needs.

Question 6

How did planned development strengthen the hands of…


📝 Question:

How did planned development strengthen the hands of the government?

💡 Solution:

Planned development through the Planning Commission enabled the central government to mobilize national savings, prioritize key infrastructure sectors (steel, dams, power), direct capital allocation, and establish public sector enterprises (PSUs), making the state the supreme manager of national economic growth.

Question 7

What were the economic policies and objectives of…


📝 Question:

What were the economic policies and objectives of the Indian government in the first two Five Year Plans?

💡 Solution:

First Five-Year Plan (1951-56)**: Focused on agricultural development, irrigation projects (Bhakra Nangal, Hirakud), and land reforms to achieve food self-sufficiency.

  • Second Five-Year Plan (1956-61): Focused on rapid industrialization with emphasis on heavy industries (steel plants like Bhilai, capital goods, railways) based on the Mahalanobis model of a mixed economy.

Question 8

What was the contribution of the first prime…


📝 Question:

What was the contribution of the first prime minister in drafting the constitution, states reorganisation, Planning Commission and foreign policy

💡 Solution:

Constitution**: Jawaharlal Nehru moved the Objectives Resolution setting out the core vision of a sovereign, secular democratic republic.

  • States Reorganisation: Appointed the States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) in 1953 and accepted linguistic reorganisation to maintain unity.
  • Planning Commission: Established the Planning Commission in 1950 and championed a mixed economy.
  • Foreign Policy: Framed Non-Alignment (NAM) and Panchsheel to maintain independent diplomacy during the Cold War.

Question 9

Which were the main foreign policy principles established…


📝 Question:

Which were the main foreign policy principles established by Jawaharlal Nehru?

💡 Solution:

The main principles were

  1. Non-Alignment (NAM): Refusing to join US or Soviet military power blocs.
  2. Panchsheel Doctrine: Five principles including non-aggression, non-interference, mutual respect for sovereignty, equality, and peaceful co-existence.
  3. Anti-Colonialism & Global Peace: Supporting national liberation struggles in Asia and Africa.

Question 10

What were the similarities and differences in the…


📝 Question:

What were the similarities and differences in the Punjab and Assam movements?

💡 Solution:

Similarities**: Both were powerful regional movements against central government dominance, cited economic/resource neglect, organized strikes and blockades, and culminated in formal accords signed by Rajiv Gandhi in 1985.

  • Differences
  1. Core Issue: Punjab’s movement revolved around state autonomy, water rights, and religious identity, whereas Assam’s movement focused on deporting illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and protecting employment for locals.
  2. Militancy: Punjab suffered extreme militant secessionist violence (Khalistan demand), whereas Assam was primarily a student-led mass agitation (AASU).

Question 11

Why did the constitution not give Hindi the…


📝 Question:

Why did the constitution not give Hindi the status of a national language? Give reasons

💡 Solution:

The Constitution did not make Hindi the national language because India is a deeply multi-lingual nation. Imposing Hindi on non-Hindi speaking southern and eastern states (such as Tamil Nadu and West Bengal) risked sparking linguistic secession, internal strife, and alienation among non-Hindi citizens. Therefore, Hindi was designated as the official language while English was retained for official use.

Question 12

Why did the Congress split during the time…


📝 Question:

Why did the Congress split during the time of Indira Gandhi?

💡 Solution:

The Congress party split in 1969 due to intense ideological and power conflicts between Prime Minister Indira Gandhi (supported by the socialist “Young Turks”) and traditional senior leaders (known as the “Syndicate”). The split crystallized during the Presidential election of 1969 when Indira Gandhi supported independent candidate V. V. Giri against official Congress candidate N. Sanjiva Reddy.

Question 13

What was the emergency What were the undemocratic…


📝 Question:

What was the emergency? What were the undemocratic activities of the government during the 1975-77 emergency period?

💡 Solution:

Emergency**: An extraordinary constitutional provision imposed from June 25, 1975 to March 1977 by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, suspending normal democratic governance and fundamental rights.

  • Undemocratic Activities
  1. Imprisonment of thousands of opposition political leaders, activists, and journalists without trial under preventive detention laws (MISA).
  2. Strict press censorship prohibiting publication of news critical of the government.
  3. Forced sterilization drives and forced slum clearances.
  4. Constitutional amendments passed to abrogate judicial review and fundamental rights.

Question 14

What were the steps taken during Rajiv Gandhis…


📝 Question:

What were the steps taken during Rajiv Gandhi’s prime ministership to address regional aspirations?

💡 Solution:

During Rajiv Gandhi’s tenure as Prime Minister, key steps included

  1. Rajiv-Longowal Accord (1985): Signed to restore peace in Punjab by agreeing to transfer Chandigarh to Punjab.
  2. Assam Accord (1985): Signed with AASU leaders to detect and deport post-1971 illegal immigrants.
  3. 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act: Passed to introduce democratic decentralization through mandatory Panchayati Raj.

Q40

Project Work Project Question 1 Find out the…


📝 Question:

Project Work Project Question 1: Find out the amendments made to the constitution during the emergency period. Which of these amendments were revoked after the emergency? Make a poster exhibition of these provisions

💡 Solution:

Emergency Amendments**: The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act (1976) severely curtailed fundamental rights, extended the Lok Sabha term from 5 to 6 years, and reduced judicial review powers of the Supreme Court.

  • Revocation: The Janata Party government passed the 44th Constitutional Amendment Act (1978), which restored the 5-year term, made fundamental rights non-suspendable, restricted Emergency provisions exclusively to “armed rebellion”, and restored judicial oversight.

Question 2

Project Question 2 Which were the coalition governments…


📝 Question:

Project Question 2**: Which were the coalition governments that were formed between 1990 and 2000? Make a poster exhibition of their main contributions and shortcomings

💡 Solution:

Coalition Governments (1990-2000)**: National Front (V. P. Singh / Chandra Shekhar), United Front (H. D. Deve Gowda / I. K. Gujral), and NDA (Atal Bihari Vajpayee).

  • Contributions: Implementation of Mandal Commission reservations for OBCs, initiation of LPG economic reforms (1991), Pokhran-II nuclear tests (1998), and expansion of federal accommodation.
  • Shortcomings: Frequent political instability, premature fall of governments, and policy paralysis due to partner pressures.


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