Power Sharing – MCQs with Answers and Explanations
Power Sharing – Topic-wise MCQs with Answers and Explanations
The following 30 MCQs from “Power Sharing” are arranged topic-wise. Click on the “Show Answer & Explanation” button under each question to reveal the correct option and a clear, concept-based explanation for effective revision.
Belgium and Sri Lanka
Q1. In Belgium, which language is spoken by a majority of people in the Flemish region?
Correct Answer: (B) Dutch
The Flemish region of Belgium is inhabited mainly by Dutch-speaking people, known as Flemish. French speakers live mainly in the Wallonia region, while German speakers form a very small minority. This linguistic diversity is the root of Belgium’s power sharing arrangements.
Q2. In which part of Belgium do most French-speaking people live?
Correct Answer: (B) Wallonia region
Most French-speaking people in Belgium live in the Wallonia region in the south. In contrast, Dutch speakers live in Flanders in the north. Brussels has a French-speaking majority but is a separate, special region. Knowing these regions helps to understand why Belgium needed a complex power sharing system.
Q3. What is the main reason for tension between Dutch and French-speaking communities in Belgium?
Correct Answer: (B) Economic and language-based inequalities
In Belgium, the French-speaking community was economically and politically more powerful even though Dutch speakers were numerically more. This inequality based on language and economic power created tensions and forced leaders to design special accommodation measures.
Q4. Which statement about Brussels is correct?
Correct Answer: (B) It has a French-speaking majority.
Brussels, the capital of Belgium, has a French-speaking majority, even though Dutch speakers form the majority in the country as a whole. This made Brussels a very sensitive area and required a special power sharing arrangement to protect both communities.
Q5. Which community forms the majority in Sri Lanka?
Correct Answer: (B) Sinhalese
In Sri Lanka, about 74% of the population are Sinhalese. They mostly follow Buddhism and speak Sinhala. Tamils form about 18% of the population, including Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian Tamils. The large Sinhala majority influenced the government’s majoritarian policies.
Q6. Sri Lankan Tamils are mainly concentrated in which parts of Sri Lanka?
Correct Answer: (B) Northern and Eastern parts
Sri Lankan Tamils mostly live in the north and east of Sri Lanka. Indian Tamils, brought by the British, mostly live in the plantation areas in the central highlands. These regional concentrations influenced the demand for regional autonomy and later a separate Tamil state.
Q7. Which of the following is a similarity between Belgium and Sri Lanka?
Correct Answer: (C) Both have more than one major linguistic group.
The common feature between Belgium and Sri Lanka is that both are linguistically diverse. Belgium has Dutch, French and German speakers, while Sri Lanka has Sinhala and Tamil communities. However, they responded to this diversity in very different ways.
Q8. Which of the following best explains why Belgium is described as “a small country with complex social divisions”?
Correct Answer: (B) It has multiple language communities and regions.
Belgium is geographically small but socially complex due to the presence of Dutch, French and German language communities, each concentrated in different regions like Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels. This complexity required innovative power sharing arrangements.
Majoritarianism in Sri Lanka
Q9. What is meant by the term “majoritarianism”?
Correct Answer: (B) Belief that majority should rule regardless of minority interests
Majoritarianism is the idea that the majority community has a right to rule in any manner it wants, ignoring the needs and wishes of minorities. In Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan leaders followed this thinking and adopted policies that strongly favoured Sinhala Buddhists.
Q10. Which of the following was a majoritarian measure in Sri Lanka?
Correct Answer: (C) Passing the Sinhala Only Act in 1956
The Sinhala Only Act declared Sinhala as the sole official language of Sri Lanka. It ignored the Tamil language completely and clearly favoured the Sinhala-speaking majority, making it a key example of majoritarian policy.
Q11. Which group felt the most alienated due to majoritarian policies in Sri Lanka?
Correct Answer: (B) Sri Lankan Tamils
Sri Lankan Tamils were directly affected by language and job policies that favoured Sinhala speakers. They felt deprived of equal rights and opportunities, and over time their sense of alienation grew into demands for autonomy and then a separate state.
Q12. Which of the following demands was not initially raised by Tamil political organisations in Sri Lanka?
Correct Answer: (D) Immediate creation of a separate Tamil country
Initially, Tamil organisations asked for language recognition, regional autonomy and equality in education and jobs. Only after these moderate demands were ignored for many years did some groups start demanding a separate Tamil state.
Q13. The long and violent conflict in Sri Lanka between government forces and Tamil militants is called:
Correct Answer: (C) Civil War
A civil war is a violent conflict between groups within the same country. In Sri Lanka, the conflict was between the Sinhala-dominated government and Tamil militant groups who demanded an independent Tamil Eelam.
Q14. Which of the following was a result of majoritarianism in Sri Lanka?
Correct Answer: (C) Civil war and loss of life and property
Majoritarian policies alienated Tamils and ultimately led to a prolonged civil war. This conflict caused huge loss of life and property and slowed Sri Lanka’s social and economic development.
Q15. The example of Sri Lanka warns democracies against:
Correct Answer: (C) Majoritarianism
Sri Lanka shows that majoritarianism can break the trust of minority communities and damage national unity. It reminds democracies that simply following majority rule without protecting minority rights is dangerous.
Accommodation in Belgium
Q16. Which of the following is a key feature of the Belgian model of power sharing?
Correct Answer: (B) Equal number of Dutch and French-speaking ministers at the centre.
To prevent domination, the Belgian constitution provides that the central government must have an equal number of Dutch and French-speaking ministers. This ensures that neither group can take unilateral decisions.
Q17. Belgium is a federal country. What does “federal” mean in this context?
Correct Answer: (B) Power shared between central and state governments
In a federal system, power is constitutionally divided between the central government and regional governments (states or regions). Belgium not only shares power vertically (centre–state) but also among language communities.
Q18. What is “community government” in Belgium?
Correct Answer: (B) Government elected by people of one language group
Community government in Belgium is elected by people belonging to one language community (Dutch, French or German). It has powers over cultural, educational and language-related matters, giving each group direct control over its identity-related issues.
Q19. Which of the following matters is handled by community governments in Belgium?
Correct Answer: (C) Cultural, educational and language-related issues
Community governments in Belgium focus on identity-related matters such as culture, language and education. This allows communities to protect their heritage while still remaining part of a united country.
Q20. Why is the Belgian model called “an example of accommodation”?
Correct Answer: (C) It carefully shares power among all communities.
Belgium’s arrangements are called accommodation because they adjust and share power in a way that protects the interests of Dutch, French and German speakers. No community dominates; instead, each is given a fair share.
Q21. Which of the following results has Belgium largely achieved through power sharing?
Correct Answer: (C) Political stability and unity
Because of its inclusive power sharing system, Belgium has remained united, peaceful and stable, despite deep linguistic divisions. This contrasts strongly with Sri Lanka’s experience.
Q22. Which statement correctly compares Belgium and Sri Lanka?
Correct Answer: (C) Belgium shared power; Sri Lanka ignored Tamil interests.
Belgium is known for its careful power sharing among communities, while Sri Lanka followed a majoritarian approach favouring Sinhalese and ignoring Tamil demands, which led to conflict.
Why Is Power Sharing Desirable?
Q23. Which of the following is a prudential reason for power sharing?
Correct Answer: (B) It reduces chances of conflict and ensures stability.
Prudential reasons are practical benefits. Power sharing reduces the possibility of social conflict and helps maintain political stability, which is necessary for a country’s unity and development.
Q24. Which of these is a moral reason for power sharing?
Correct Answer: (A) People should have a say in decisions that affect them.
Moral reasons are based on democratic values. In a democracy, it is right and fair that people affected by decisions have a role in making them. Power sharing respects this principle.
Q25. “Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy” because:
Correct Answer: (C) it allows maximum participation and representation.
Democracy is about sharing power among different organs, levels and groups so that many voices are heard. This participation and representation make power sharing the true spirit of democracy.
Q26. Why should power not be concentrated in one person or group in a democracy?
Correct Answer: (B) It can lead to misuse of power and dictatorship.
Concentration of power goes against democratic principles. When power is shared, checks and balances are created, reducing the chance of authoritarian rule and protecting citizens’ rights.
Forms of Power Sharing
Q27. Power shared among different organs of government is known as:
Correct Answer: (B) Horizontal power sharing
When power is shared among organs like the legislature, executive and judiciary, all at the same level, it is called horizontal distribution of power. Each organ checks the others, preventing misuse.
Q28. Power shared among governments at different levels is called:
Correct Answer: (C) Vertical division
Sharing power among different levels—central, state and local—is called vertical division of power. This is a key feature of federalism and brings government closer to the people.
Q29. Reserving seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in legislatures is an example of power sharing among:
Correct Answer: (C) different social groups
Reserving seats ensures that weaker social groups such as SCs and STs have a voice in law-making. This is a form of power sharing among social groups to make democracy more inclusive.
Q30. Coalition governments, where power is shared among several political parties, are an example of power sharing in which way?
Correct Answer: (B) Among political parties and pressure groups
In coalition governments, several parties share executive power and often depend on the support of smaller parties and pressure groups. This is a form of power sharing among political parties and organised interests in society.