Chapter at a Glance
Political parties are a necessary condition for representative democracy because they organise choices, form governments, make laws, shape public opinion and connect citizens with government.
Definition
A group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in government, agreeing on policies and programmes for collective good.
Three components
Leaders • active members • followers.
Seven functions
Elections • policies • laws • governments • opposition • public opinion • access to government/welfare.
Party systems
One-party • two-party • multiparty; India follows a multiparty system.
Recognition
Election Commission recognition gives established parties special facilities such as reserved symbols.
Four challenges
Internal democracy • dynastic succession • money/muscle • lack of meaningful choice.
Complete Concept Learning
Chapter 4 rebuilt from the supplied 2026–27 NCERT text, with exam-ready distinctions, visual maps and application points.
What Is a Political Party?
A political party is a group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in government. They agree on policies and programmes for society with a view to promote the collective good. Parties reflect fundamental political divisions in society and involve partisanship.
The Seven Functions of Political Parties
1. Contest elections
Parties select and put forward candidates for elections.
2. Policies & programmes
They group a large variety of views into a few basic positions from which voters choose.
3. Make laws
Party members in legislatures generally follow the direction of party leadership.
4. Form & run governments
Parties recruit and train leaders and make them ministers to run government.
5. Opposition
Parties that lose elections criticise the government and mobilise opposition.
6. Shape public opinion
They raise issues, highlight problems, mobilise activists and sometimes launch movements.
7. Access to government
Citizens can approach party leaders for help with government machinery and welfare schemes.
Why Do We Need Political Parties?
Without parties, every candidate would be independent. It would become difficult to make major policy promises, form a coherent government or assign responsibility for how the country is run. Even non-party panchayat elections often develop factions and panels that perform party-like functions.
How Many Parties Are Good for Democracy?
| System | Meaning | Textbook example |
|---|---|---|
| One-party | Only one party is allowed to control/run government; no genuine competition for power. | China (as described in the textbook) |
| Two-party | Two main parties have a serious chance of winning a majority and forming government. | USA, UK |
| Multiparty | Several parties have a reasonable chance of coming to power alone or in alliances. | India |
In a multiparty system, parties may form a coalition to form government. An alliance/front is when several parties join hands for contesting elections and winning power.
Why Does India Have Many Parties?
India's social and geographical diversity is large and cannot easily be absorbed by two or three parties. India's multiparty system therefore reflects the country's special circumstances. It may appear messy and can create instability, but it allows a variety of interests and opinions to receive political representation.
Strength
Wide representation of diverse interests.
Challenge
Coalition management can be complex and may appear unstable.
Federal fit
Regional and social diversity encourages state-level and regional parties.
Popular Participation in Political Parties
The chapter notes that political parties are among the least trusted institutions in many democracies, including South Asia. Yet participation in India has been relatively high: the share reporting party membership was higher than in several advanced countries in the cited survey, and party membership and closeness to parties increased over the preceding decades.
Recognised Political Parties
Every party must register with the Election Commission. Recognised parties receive special facilities; an important facility is a unique election symbol that official candidates of that party can use. The chapter's 2026–27 reprint describes the recognition criteria and lists six recognised national parties according to the Election Commission notification issued in 2023.
| Status in supplied text | Minimum threshold stated |
|---|---|
| State party | At least 6% of total votes in a State Assembly election + at least 2 seats. |
| National party | At least 6% of total votes in Lok Sabha elections or Assembly elections in four States + at least 4 Lok Sabha seats. |
Party Profiles in the 2026–27 Reprint
The supplied chapter gives profiles of the recognised national parties it discusses. The descriptions below retain the chapter's framing and historical snapshot rather than replacing it with current political data.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
Formed in 2012 following the 2011 anti-corruption movement; associated with accountability, clean administration, transparency and good governance. The chapter notes governments in Punjab and Delhi in its described snapshot.
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)
Formed in 1984 under Kanshi Ram; seeks to represent bahujan samaj including Dalits, Adivasis, OBCs and religious minorities; main base described as Uttar Pradesh.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
Founded in 1980 by reviving the erstwhile Bharatiya Jana Sangh; the chapter describes cultural nationalism/Hindutva, integral humanism, Antyodaya and its positions on national integration, uniform civil code and religious conversions.
Communist Party of India – Marxist (CPI-M)
Founded in 1964; believes in Marxism-Leninism; supports socialism, secularism and democracy and opposes imperialism and communalism.
Indian National Congress (INC)
Founded in 1885; the chapter describes its historic national role, secular democratic orientation, welfare of weaker sections and minorities, centrist orientation and support for economic reforms with a human face.
National People’s Party (NPP)
Formed in 2013 under P.A. Sangma; the chapter describes it as the first party from North East India to attain national-party status, emphasising diversity, education, employment and empowerment.
Regional / State Parties
The chapter says State parties are commonly referred to as regional parties, although they need not be regional in ideology or outlook. Some have national-level organisation but succeed mainly in certain states; others consciously emphasise State identity.
Examples in text
Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Biju Janata Dal, Sikkim Democratic Front, Mizo National Front and Telangana Rashtra Samithi.
Growth
The number and strength of State parties expanded over the preceding three decades described in the chapter.
Federalism
National parties often need State parties in alliances; this has contributed to strengthening federalism and democracy.
Challenges to Political Parties
1. Lack of internal democracy
Power becomes concentrated in one or a few leaders; meetings, membership registers and internal elections may be weak or irregular.
2. Dynastic succession
Top positions may be controlled by members of one family, giving unfair advantage and limiting opportunities for ordinary workers.
3. Money & muscle power
Election-focused parties may favour candidates who can raise money; rich donors can influence decisions, and in some cases parties support candidates with criminal backgrounds.
4. No meaningful choice
Ideological differences among parties can shrink, leaving voters without sufficiently different policy alternatives or leadership choices.
How Can Political Parties Be Reformed?
The chapter describes recent measures and additional suggestions, while warning that over-regulation can be counter-productive.
| Measure / suggestion | Purpose / issue addressed | Important qualification in chapter |
|---|---|---|
| Anti-defection law | Discourage elected representatives from changing parties for office/cash. | It reduced defection but also made dissent within parties more difficult. |
| Candidate affidavits | Disclose property and pending criminal cases. | Information becomes public, but accuracy is not automatically verified. |
| Organisational elections + income-tax returns | Encourage party organisation and transparency. | Sometimes treated as mere formality; impact on internal democracy is uncertain. |
| Internal affairs law | Membership registers, party constitution, independent dispute authority and open elections. | Suggested reform, not stated as an already accepted solution. |
| Women's tickets / quotas | Increase women's representation in parties. | Suggested minimum of about one-third in the chapter. |
| State funding | Reduce dependence on private election money. | Suggested support could be cash or in kind. |
More and Better Politics
Citizens can push parties through petitions, publicity and agitations. Pressure groups, movements and the media can make parties take reform seriously when they fear losing public support. The chapter also argues that those who want better politics should join political parties rather than only criticise them from outside.
NCERT Exercise
Questions from the supplied Chapter 4 exercise, followed by concise answer frameworks.
1 · Functions
State the various functions political parties perform in a democracy.
Answer framework
Contest elections; put forward policies and programmes; participate in law-making; form and run governments; play opposition; shape public opinion; provide people access to government machinery and welfare schemes.
2 · Challenges
What are the various challenges faced by political parties?
Answer
Four major challenges: lack of internal democracy, dynastic succession, growing role of money and muscle power, and lack of meaningful choice for voters.
3 · Reforms
Suggest some reforms to strengthen parties so that they perform their functions well.
Answer framework
Internal-party regulation; membership registers and open internal elections; greater representation of women; state funding; transparency through affidavits; anti-defection measures; citizen and media pressure; greater public participation.
4 · Definition
What is a political party?
Answer
A group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in government, agreeing on policies and programmes to promote the collective good.
5 · Characteristics
What are the characteristics of a political party?
Answer points
Common policies/programmes; contest elections; seek political power; involve partisanship; represent particular sections/interests; have leaders, active members and followers.
6 · Fill in the blank
A group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in the government is called a _____________________.
Answer
Political party.
7 · Match the following
| List I | List II |
|---|---|
| Congress Party | United Progressive Alliance (UPA) |
| Bharatiya Janata Party | National Democratic Alliance (NDA) |
| CPI (M) | Left Front |
| Telugu Desam Party | State party |
Correct code: (d) D C A B.
8 · BSP Founder
Who among the following is the founder of the Bahujan Samaj Party?
Answer
A. Kanshi Ram.
9 · BJP Philosophy
What is the guiding philosophy of the Bharatiya Janata Party?
Answer
C. Integral humanism.
10 · Statements on Parties
A. Parties do not enjoy much trust. B. Parties are often rocked by scandals involving top party leaders. C. Parties are not necessary to run governments.
Answer
(b) A and B. The chapter argues that parties are necessary for representative democracy, so C is incorrect.
11 · Case Study: Muhammad Yunus
The exercise presents Muhammad Yunus launching Nagarik Shakti (Citizens’ Power) in Bangladesh and asks whether he made the right decision, whether the fears expressed were justified, and how such a new party should be organised.
Answer direction
A strong answer should weigh both sides: entering politics can provide a democratic route to improve governance, but political parties require organisation, accountability, grassroots participation, policy clarity and transparent leadership. The new party should be internally democratic and should offer meaningful policy alternatives.
Practice Worksheets
Progressive practice from recall to application.
Worksheet A · Foundations
Worksheet B · Functions
Worksheet C · Party Systems
Worksheet D · Parties in India
Worksheet E · Challenges & Reforms
Party System Classifier
Future version: identify party system, party function, challenge and suitable reform from real-world scenarios.
COMING SOONComplete Chapter Revision
One visual map for rapid recall of the entire chapter.
Definition
Group contesting elections and seeking governmental power on agreed policies.
Components
Leaders + active members + followers.
Functions
Elections, policies, laws, government, opposition, public opinion, access.
Necessity
Representative democracy needs institutions to aggregate views and form responsible government.
Party systems
One, two and multiparty; India is multiparty.
Recognition
Election Commission registration, recognition and reserved symbols.
National parties
Country-wide parties with units across States.
State parties
Strong in particular States; can strengthen federalism through alliances.
Challenge 1
Internal democracy.
Challenge 2
Dynastic succession.
Challenge 3
Money and muscle power.
Challenge 4
Lack of meaningful choice.
Reform
Anti-defection, affidavits, organisational elections, women’s representation and possible state funding.
Citizen role
Petitions, publicity, agitations, media, movements and joining parties.
Chapter Tests
Mixed recall, distinction, case-based and long-answer practice.
Mini Test · 40 Marks
Quick answer key
Party = organised group contesting elections for power; components = leaders, active members, followers; functions = seven textbook functions; systems = one/two/multi; India = diversity; challenges = internal democracy, dynasty, money/muscle, lack of meaningful choice; reforms = anti-defection, affidavits, organisational elections, internal regulation, women’s tickets, state funding, public pressure and participation.
Adaptive Political Parties Test
Future version: detects whether the learner is weak in functions, party systems, recognition, party profiles, challenges or reforms.
COMING SOON