CBSE Class 10 Social Science Civics Notes Chapter 1 Power Sharing

Author at PW

October 28, 2025

CBSE Class 10 Social Science Civics Notes Chapter 1 Power Sharing

CBSE Class 10 Social Science Civics Notes Chapter 1 are very helpful for students to understand the concept of power sharing in a simple way. This political science chapter explains why sharing power is important in a democracy and how it helps keep the country stable, fair, and united.

In this Class 10 Civics Chapter 1, you will learn about the two main types of power sharing. While horizontal power sharing divides authority among the legislature, executive, and judiciary, vertical power sharing divides it between the central, state, and local governments. Case studies of Belgium and Sri Lanka explain how proper power sharing can prevent conflicts and promote harmony in a diverse country.

Class 10 is an important year, and understanding this chapter well can improve your marks in exams. These Class 10 Civics Chapter 1 notes help you revise key concepts quickly. With power-sharing class 10 notes, you can understand how governments share power and maintain harmony. Well-explained, crisp CBSE Class 10 Social Science Civics Notes Chapter 1 also makes it easy to remember examples and case studies. So keep reading to explore detailed Class 10 Chapter 1 Power Sharing notes.

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CBSE Class 10 Chapter 1 Power Sharing Notes

Civics, or political science, is an important part of the Class 10 Social Science Syllabus. Questions from this chapter are mostly theoretical and can help you score well if you understand them properly. That's why, when you study CBSE Class 10 Chapter 1 Power Sharing notes deeply, it becomes easier for you to remember important concepts and write effective answers in exams.

These Civics Chapter 1 Power Sharing class 10 notes explain how power is shared in a democracy between different levels of government and branches. Find the detailed class 10 civics chapter 1 notes that will make your revision simpler and help you prepare effectively for exams below.

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NCERT Class 10 Civics Chapter 1 Notes

1. Story of Belgium

Almost one crore people live in the small European nation of Belgium, which is roughly half the population of Haryana.
Fifty-nine per cent of the nation's population speaks Dutch, forty per cent speaks French, and one per cent speaks German.
Due to their wealth and influence, the minority French-speaking population benefited from both economic growth and educational advancement.
In the 1950s and 1960s, this led to tensions between the Dutch- and French-speaking communities.

2. Accommodation in Belgium

The Belgian government did a great job of managing community differences. Belgian politicians rewrote their constitution four times between 1970 and 1993, each time creating a new framework for governing. The Belgian model comprises the following components.
According to the Constitution, there should be an equal number of Dutch- and French-speaking ministers in the Central Government. Each linguistic group's majority members must approve certain unique laws. As a result, no community can decide on its own.
The federal government does not have authority over the state governments.
Brussels has a distinct government, with equal representation for both groups.
There is a third type of government in addition to the federal and state governments.
Regardless of where they reside, members of the Dutch, French, and German-speaking communities elect this "community government". When it comes to matters of culture, education, and language, this government is in charge.
Though extremely intricate, the Belgium model prevented tensions between the two main communities.

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3. Story of Sri Lanka

Let us now examine the circumstances in Sri Lanka, a different nation. With a population of roughly 2 crore, it is an island nation comparable in size to Haryana. Sri Lanka's population is diverse.
The two largest social groupings are those who speak Tamil (18%) and Sinhala (74%). There are two subcategories of Tamils: "Tamil Indians" and "Sri Lankan Tamils".

4. Majoritarianism in Sri Lanka

In 1948, Sri Lanka gained its independence. Since they were the majority, the Sinhala community established the government. Additionally, they followed laws that gave preference to Sinhala candidates for government and university employment. The government's actions enhanced the Tamils in Sri Lanka's sense of separation over time.
Tamils in Sri Lanka believed that their interests were ignored by the government and that they were denied equal political rights as well as discriminated against in employment and other chances.
As a result, there is poor interaction between the Tamil and Sinhala communities. Tamils in Sri Lanka started political parties and fought for equal opportunities in obtaining employment and education, regional autonomy, and the designation of Tamil as an official language.
However, the administration consistently rejected their demand. The mistrust that existed between the two groups grew into a civil war and a generalised struggle. Thousands of members of both communities have died as a result.
Numerous families had to leave the nation as refugees, while a great number of others lost their jobs. 2009 saw the end of the civil war, which had a devastating impact on the nation's social, cultural, and economic life.

Check Out: PW 15 CBSE Sample Paper Class 10 Social Science for 2026 Exam

5. Learnings from the stories of Belgium and Sri Lanka

Despite being democracies, the two nations approach the idea of power sharing differently.
The authorities of Belgium have realised that respecting the sentiments and interests of many communities and regions is the best way to maintain national unity. This led to power-sharing agreements that were agreeable to both parties.
Sri Lanka demonstrates how a majority community can threaten national unity by attempting to impose its will over others and by refusing to cede power.

6. Form of Power Sharing

The majority of you probably believe that splitting power equals weakening the nation. In the past, people believed something similar. It was believed that a government's whole power must be vested in a single individual or a collection of individuals in a single location.
If not, it would be exceedingly challenging to make snap decisions and follow through on them. But as democracy has grown, these ideas have evolved. People control themselves in democracies through institutions of self-government.
Everybody can influence how public policies are formulated. Therefore, political authority ought to be shared among the people in a democracy. Power sharing can occur in a variety of ways in modern democracies, as listed below:

The legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government all share authority. The reason this is known as the horizontal distribution of power is that it permits several government agencies positioned at the same level to exercise various authorities.
This division guarantees that no organ has unlimited authority. Every organ assesses every other one. We refer to this setup as a system of checks and balances.
Two types of governments can share power: the federal government, which is the main government for the entire nation, and the province or regional governments.
Different social groupings, including linguistic and religious ones, may also share power. Belgium's "community government" is an excellent illustration of this structure.
Minority populations are given a fair amount of power through the employment of this technique.
How political parties, pressure groups, and movements influence or control the powerful can also be interpreted as power-sharing relationships. When two or more political parties band together to run for office, they form a coalition government and share power if they win.

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Benefits of Learning CBSE Class 10 Social Science Civics Notes Chapter 1

Studying CBSE Class 10 social science civics notes chapter 1 helps you understand what's most important from the chapter. Here are some important benefits of using Class 10 Civics Chapter 1 notes:

Quick Revision: The Ch Power Sharing Class 10 Notes summarise all important points in a simple way. You can revise them quickly before exams without going through the whole textbook chapter again.
Better Understanding: Power sharing class 10 notes explain difficult concepts like the story of Belgium and Sri Lanka's form of power sharing in simple words, making it easy to understand how governments work.
Helps Score Good Marks: Using these class 10 chapter 1 power sharing notes, you can remember important examples like Belgium and Sri Lanka, which can help you answer questions correctly and score higher.
Organised Learning: Notes are arranged topic-wise, so you can study step by step without feeling confused.

Also check: CBSE Class 10th Revision Books

CBSE Class 10 Social Science Civics Chapter 1 Power Sharing Summary

Chapter 1 of Class 10 Civics, Power Sharing Class 10 Notes, explains how democratic governments share power to keep the system fair and stable. It shows why no single person or group should have all the power. The chapter uses examples of Belgium and Sri Lanka to highlight how sharing power can bring peace or cause conflict.

Why Power Sharing is Important:

Reduces conflict: Sharing power among different social groups stops fights and keeps politics stable.
Promotes stability: It helps include everyone’s interests and keeps the government steady.
Ensures fairness: Minority groups get a voice, and people feel represented.
Supports democracy: Citizens have a say in how they are governed.

Forms of Power Sharing:

Horizontal: Divides power between legislative, executive, and judiciary.
Vertical: Shares power between the central and state governments.
Among social groups: Communities like linguistic or religious groups get fair power (for example, Belgium).
Among political parties: Parties form coalitions and share power in government.

Case Studies or Examples:

Belgium: Shares power between Dutch-speaking and French-speaking communities to maintain harmony.
Sri Lanka: Ignoring minority rights led to conflict, showing the dangers of not sharing power.

CBSE Class 10 Social Science Civics Notes Chapter 1 FAQs

Q.1. What is CBSE Class 10 Chapter 1 about?

Ans. CBSE Class 10 Chapter 1, Power Sharing, explains how power is divided among different groups in a country so that everyone gets a fair chance in decision-making.

Q.2. Why are Power Sharing Class 10 notes important?

Ans. Power Sharing Class 10 notes are important because they help you understand tough topics easily. They give short and clear explanations that are useful for quick revision before exams.

Q.3. What is the difference between the power-sharing model in India and Belgium, and Sri Lanka?

Ans. In Belgium, power is shared among different language and regional groups. In Sri Lanka, the majority group held more power, which caused the conflict. India has a balanced model where power is shared among central, state, and local governments to maintain harmony.

Q.4. How do the Class 10 Chapter 1 Power Sharing notes help in scoring well?

Ans. The Class 10 Chapter 1 Power Sharing notes help students revise key points quickly. They cover all the main topics and examples, which help you write better answers in exams and score good marks.

Q.5. What are the two main types of power sharing?

Ans. The two main types of power sharing are horizontal and vertical. In horizontal power sharing, power is shared among the Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary. In vertical power sharing, power is divided among central, state, and local governments for balanced governance.

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