NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Social Science Civics Chapter 5 Popular Struggles and Movements
NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Social Science Civics Chapter 5: Popular Struggles and Movements help students understand how people participate in democracy through collective action. This class 10 chapter 5 civics explains the role of popular struggles, pressure groups, and social movements in influencing government decisions. It highlights how citizens raise their voices to protect rights and ensure that democracy remains people-centred, not controlled by a few elites. Important case studies and terms are explained in a clear question-answer format. Written in simple language and based on the CBSE syllabus, these solutions support easy revision, better understanding, and effective preparation for Class 10 board exams.
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Class 10 Social Science Civics Chapter 5 Popular Struggles and Movements Questions Answers
Exercises Page No. 69
1. In what ways do pressure groups and movements exert influence on politics?
Answer.
Pressure groups and movements exert influence on politics in the following ways:
- They attempt to influence government policies.
- They gain public support and sympathy for a cause.
- They carry out protests, campaigns and exhibitions to gather people.
- They lobby together to alter a decision.
2. Describe the forms of relationships between pressure groups and political parties.
Answer.
The relationship between political parties and pressure groups can take different forms:
- Some pressure groups can have political ministers as their leaders. The ministers from one party could try to affect the policies of another party by forming a pressure group.
- Political parties participate in trade unions and students’ unions, either as a host or by mobilising support for such unions to fight against their rival parties.
- Movements for a cause can end up being a pressure group in various cases. An example of such a pressure group would be the Assam students’ movement which later became Asom Gana Parishad.
- They have an indirect relationship, too, where they are in dialogue and negotiation.
3. Explain how the activities of pressure groups are useful in the functioning of a democratic government.
Answer.
The activities led by the pressure groups can push the government to rethink on the policies and acts proposed by them for the country. Depending on the demands put forward by the pressure groups, they can make a positive change in the country. Their activities, like campaigns or protests, can bring attention to the wrongful acts of the government, which otherwise remain behind the curtains. These pressure groups can help bring awareness to the citizens of the governmental activities, and hence, the political parties have to act in a responsible manner.
Read More: NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Civics Chapter 1 Power-Sharing
4. What is a pressure group? Give a few examples.
Answer.
There are many indirect ways in which people can get governments to listen to their demands or their points of view. They could do so by forming an organisation and undertaking activities to promote their interests or their viewpoints. These are called interest groups or pressure groups.
Example: Farmers’ Organisation – Bhartiya Kisan Union and All India Trade Union Congress
5. What is the difference between a pressure group and a political party?
Answer.
| Pressure Group | Political Party |
| Organised or unorganised | Organised |
| Participation is open to all | Participation is through a set norm |
| The cause is to fight against a common purpose | Their role is to form a government |
| They don’t contest elections | They contest elections |
| All participants have the same ideology | Ministers can have different ideologies |
Read More: NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Civics Chapter 2 Federalism
6. Organisations that undertake activities to promote the interests of specific social sections, such as workers, employees, teachers, and lawyers, are called _____________________ groups.
Answer.
Organisations that undertake activities to promote the interests of specific social sections, such as workers, employees, teachers, and lawyers, are called sectional interest groups.
7. Which among the following is the special feature that distinguishes a pressure group from a political party?
- Parties take political stances, while pressure groups do not bother about political issues.
- Pressure groups are confined to a few people, while parties involve a larger number of people.
- Pressure groups do not seek to get into power, while political parties do.
- Pressure groups do not seek to mobilise people, while parties do.
Answer.
(c) Pressure groups do not seek to get into power, while political parties do.
8. Match List-I (organisations and struggles) with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists.
| List-I | List-II | |
| 1. | Organisations that seek to promote the interests of a particular section or group | A. Movement |
| 2. | Organisations that seek to promote a common interest | B. Political parties |
| 3. | Struggles launched for the resolution of a social problem with or without groups and organisational structure | C. Sectional interest groups |
| 4. | Organisations that mobilise people with a view to winning political power | D. Public interest groups |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| (a) | C | D | B | A |
| (b) | C | D | A | B |
| (c) | D | C | B | A |
| (d) | B | C | D | A |
Answer.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| (b) | C | D | A | B |
Read More: NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Civics Chapter 3 Democracy and Diversity
9. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists.
| List-I | List-II | |
| 1. | Pressure group | A. Narmada Bachao Andolan |
| 2. | Long-term movement | B. Asom Gana Parishad |
| 3. | Single issue movement | C. Women’s movement |
| 4. | Political party | D. Fertiliser dealers’ association |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| (a) | D | C | A | B |
| (b) | B | A | D | C |
| (c) | C | D | B | A |
| (d) | B | D | C | A |
Answer.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| (a) | D | C | A | B |
10. Consider the following statements about pressure groups and parties.
- Pressure groups are the organised expression of the interests and views of specific social sections.
- Pressure groups take positions on political issues.
- All pressure groups are political parties.
Which of the statements given above is correct?
- A, B, and C
- A and B
- B and C
- A and C
Answer.
(b) A and B
Read More: NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Civics Chapter 4 Gender Religion and Caste
Understanding Class 10 Civics Chapter 5 Question Answers
Democracy is not only the process of voting after a few years; it is the process of continuous interaction between the government and the citizens. While the students read class 10 civics chapter 5 notes outcomes of democracy, they would understand that conflict may not be harmful to democracy. In fact, most of the changes brought in democracy are the result of strong struggles. Whether you are searching for the class 10 civics chapter 5 notes focused on the difference between the pressure groups and the political parties or you are in the process of searching the class 10 civics chapter 5 questions and answers in order to prepare for the exams, the main area of interest will be the exercise of power.
It is worth pointing out that although some curriculums may correlate the above-stated issues, the class 10 civics chapter 5 outcomes of democracy question answer includes the overall impact that these struggles have, namely, a more accountable and legitimate government. Conversely, finding the right answer to a class 10 civics chapter 5 question regarding the results of democracy will enable students to comprehend that the effectiveness of a movement is a measurable result of a sound democratic system.
The chapter shows particular examples of these events, such as democracy in Nepal or water in Bolivia, in regard to which these theories can be applied. It becomes apparent that in cases where the government does not hear the voices of its people, they always possess the means to provide change.
Check out: CBSE Class 10th Sample Papers
Case Studies and Key Concepts in Popular Struggles
The NCERT solutions highlight several critical areas that define how movements operate.
1. Nepal’s Movement for Democracy
Nepal witnessed an extraordinary popular movement in April 2006. The struggle was aimed at regaining popular control over the government from the King.
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The Conflict: King Gyanendra had dismissed the democratically elected government and dissolved Parliament.
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The Action: All major political parties formed a Seven Party Alliance (SPA) and called for a four-day strike in Kathmandu, which soon turned into an indefinite strike involving millions of people.
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The Outcome: The King was forced to concede to all three demands: the restoration of parliament, power to an all-party government, and a new constituent assembly.
2. Bolivia’s Water War
While Nepal’s struggle was about the foundations of the political system, Bolivia’s struggle was about a specific policy.
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The Conflict: The government sold the rights of water supply for the city of Cochabamba to a multi-national company (MNC). The company immediately increased the price of water fourfold.
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The Action: An alliance of labor, human rights, and community leaders organized a successful general strike and massive protests.
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The Outcome: The contract with the MNC was cancelled, and water supply was restored to the municipality at old rates.
3. Pressure Groups and Movements
The chapter makes a clear distinction between how people influence politics:
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Interest Groups: These groups seek to promote the interests of a particular section or group of society (e.g., trade unions, business associations). Their primary concern is the well-being of their members.
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Public Interest Groups: These groups aim to help groups other than their own members. For example, a group fighting against bonded labor or for environmental protection represents a "common" interest.
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Movements: Movements are more loose organizations. They depend much more on spontaneous mass participation than an interest group. Examples include the Narmada Bachao Andolan or the Movement for Right to Information.
4. How Do These Groups Influence Politics?
Pressure groups and movements exert influence through various methods:
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Information Campaigns: Organizing meetings and filing petitions to build public support.
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Protests: Organizing strikes or disrupting government programs to force the government to take notice of their demands.
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Lobbying: Influencing decision-makers through professional lobbyists or by participating in official committees.
The Role of Non-Party Political Formations
Popular movements often represent a form of "non-party politics," where citizens organize outside the traditional electoral system to demand justice. These formations allow marginalized groups, who may feel ignored by major political parties, to place their specific concerns on the national agenda. By maintaining independence from power-seeking entities, these movements act as a moral force that keeps democratic institutions focused on the genuine welfare of the grassroots population.
Check out: CBSE Class 10th Question Banks
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NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Social Science Civics Chapter 5 FAQs
What is the difference between a pressure group and a political party?
A pressure group is an organized group that attempts to influence government policies without seeking to directly control or share political power. A political party, on the other hand, is a group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in the government.
Are pressure groups healthy for democracy?
Yes. Pressure groups help to deepen democracy. They allow different sections of society to express their needs and concerns. They also act as a check on the government, preventing it from being influenced only by a small group of rich and powerful people.
What was the main aim of the BAMCEF?
BAMCEF (Backward and Minority Communities Employees Federation) is an organization largely made up of government employees. Its primary aim is to campaign against caste discrimination and its manifestations in society. It is an example of a public interest group.
How do movement groups differ from interest groups?
Movements are typically more flexible and informal. While interest groups have a formal structure and a permanent staff, movements rely on mass participation and often have a single-point agenda that is achieved over a specific period.
What is a sectional interest group?
A sectional interest group represents a specific section of society—such as workers, employees, lawyers, or teachers. Their main goal is to promote the welfare and interests of their specific members, rather than society as a whole.
