NCERT Class 10 Social Science Democratic Politics: Chapter 1 — Power-sharing
This chapter, the first in the NCERT Class 10 Social Science Democratic Politics textbook, introduces the concept of power-sharing in democracies. It resumes the discussion from the previous year, emphasizing that power should not be concentrated in one organ of the government but intelligently shared among the legislature, executive, and judiciary. The chapter uses case studies from Belgium and Sri Lanka to illustrate how different democracies handle demands for power-sharing and the resulting social tensions. It explores the complex ethnic composition of Belgium, with Dutch-speaking and French-speaking communities, and the challenges faced in its capital, Brussels. Similarly, it touches upon Sri Lanka's diverse population, highlighting the Sinhala and Tamil speakers. These examples set the stage for understanding the necessity and various forms of power-sharing in democratic governance, crucial for maintaining stability and inclusivity. The chapter concludes by defining 'ethnic' as a social division based on shared culture, common descent, or both, which may not always align with religion or nationality.
Quick info
| Board | CBSE / NCERT |
|---|---|
| Class | Class 10 |
| Subject | Social Science |
| Book | Democratic Politics |
| Chapter | Chapter 1 — Power-sharing |
| Language | English |
| PDF type | NCERT Textbook |
| Session | CBSE 2026 |
| Reading time | 3 minutes |
| Word count | 518 |
Learning outcomes
- Understand the importance of power-sharing in a democracy.
- Analyze the ethnic composition of Belgium and Sri Lanka.
- Identify the challenges faced by democracies in handling power-sharing demands.
- Define the term 'ethnic' and its implications in social divisions.
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Democracy | A system of government where power is vested in the people, who rule either directly or through freely elected representatives. |
| Legislature | The branch of government responsible for making laws. |
| Executive | The branch of government responsible for implementing and enforcing laws. |
| Judiciary | The branch of government responsible for interpreting laws and administering justice. |
| Ethnic | A social division based on shared culture, common descent, or both. |
| Minority | A group of people who are smaller in number than the other groups in a particular society. |
| Majority | A group of people who are larger in number than the other groups in a particular society. |
The complete chapter text is read in the official NCERT PDF viewer below (streamed from ncert.nic.in). This page provides NCERT Help study material — summary, vocabulary, practice questions, and FAQs — not a full reproduction of the textbook.
Read chapter online
This PDF is loaded from the official NCERT website (ncert.nic.in). Use the page buttons below to read — download is disabled on NCERT Help.
Read page by page below. PDF is streamed from the official NCERT website — no download button on this page.
Practice questions
- What is the main idea of power-sharing in a democracy? Answer: In a democracy, power should be shared among different organs of the government (legislature, executive, judiciary) and not concentrated in any one place.
- What are the two major linguistic communities in Belgium mentioned in the chapter? Answer: The two major linguistic communities in Belgium are Dutch-speaking (Flemish) and French-speaking.
- What is the approximate population of Belgium? Answer: Belgium has a population of a little over one crore.
- What does the term 'ethnic' refer to? Answer: Ethnic refers to a social division based on shared culture, common descent, or both.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main focus of NCERT Class 10 Social Science Democratic Politics Chapter 1?
The chapter focuses on the concept and importance of power-sharing in democracies, using examples from Belgium and Sri Lanka.
Where is Belgium located and what is its approximate population?
Belgium is a small country in Europe, bordering France, the Netherlands, Germany, and Luxembourg, with a population of just over one crore.
What is the ethnic composition of Belgium?
Belgium has a complex ethnic composition: 59% speak Dutch (Flemish), 40% speak French (Wallonia), and 1% speak German.
What was the specific problem in Brussels regarding power-sharing?
In Brussels, the capital, 80% of the population spoke French, making the Dutch-speaking community a minority in the capital, despite being a majority in the country.
What is the main social division in Sri Lanka mentioned in the chapter?
The main social divisions in Sri Lanka are between Sinhala-speakers (74%) and Tamil-speakers (18%).
How is the term 'ethnic' defined in the chapter?
Ethnic is defined as a social division based on shared culture, common descent, or both, not necessarily tied to religion or nationality.
Related resources
Important topics
Topics covered
NCERT Class 10 Social Science — Democratic Politics — Chapter 1 — Power-sharing. Verified by NCERT Help Editorial Team. Reviewed on 29 Jul 2026. Last updated 10 Aug 2026.