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Political Parties and Pressure Groups — GK Questions with Answers

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14 questions
  1. What best describes a political party?
    1. People organised to improve their locality
    2. People sharing the same religious views
    3. People with common principles on public matters who seek power
    4. People attending an election meeting
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) People with common principles on public matters who seek power

    A party is united by principles on public questions and aims to win power.

  2. Put in order of founding: 1. INC 2. BJP 3. CPI 4. NCP
    1. 3, 1, 2, 4
    2. 1, 2, 3, 4
    3. 1, 2, 4, 3
    4. 1, 3, 2, 4
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) 1, 3, 2, 4

    INC 1885 → CPI 1925 → BJP 1980 → NCP 1999.

  3. Which are features of the Indian party system? 1. It is multi-party 2. Parties compete; none is hegemonic 3. Elections are often fought between coalitions
    1. 1 and 2
    2. 2 and 3
    3. 1 and 3
    4. 1, 2 and 3
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) 1, 2 and 3

    All three hold — alliances such as the NDA and the opposition bloc fight elections.

  4. Which are true of pressure groups? 1. Not mainly political 2. Do not seek direct power 3. Do not contest elections 4. Need not have a political ideology
    1. 1 and 2
    2. 2 and 3
    3. 2, 3 and 4
    4. 1, 2, 3 and 4
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) 1, 2, 3 and 4

    All four describe pressure groups.

  5. Which party is today a state party and not a national party?
    1. BSP
    2. AAP
    3. BJP
    4. NCP
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) NCP

    The NCP lost national status in April 2023; AAP gained it.

  6. In 1998 the BJP came to power at the head of the
    1. United Progressive Alliance
    2. United Front
    3. National Democratic Alliance
    4. National Front
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) National Democratic Alliance

    The NDA was formed in 1998 under Vajpayee.

  7. A pressure group is
    1. a group that contests elections to protect its members
    2. a group with common aims that promotes its members’ interests by influencing government policy
    3. a group that tries to capture power with money
    4. a force that helps the state when the police fail
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) a group with common aims that promotes its members’ interests by influencing government policy

    It influences policy from outside; it does not contest or capture power.

  8. Which statement about pressure groups is NOT true?
    1. It has no political programme
    2. It does not aim at capturing power
    3. It exerts pressure on the executive
    4. It tries to gain formal control over the government
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) It tries to gain formal control over the government

    Formal control of government is the aim of parties.

  9. Which are features of coalition politics? 1. Formed for some reward 2. Dynamic — alliances break and re-form 3. Pragmatism outweighs ideology
    1. 1 only
    2. 1 and 2
    3. 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) 1, 2 and 3

    All three are standard features.

  10. On lobbying: 1. Indian lawmakers must disclose contacts with lobbyists 2. Lobbying is widespread but the public learns of it mostly through scandals 3. A lobbying law must not legitimise bribery
    1. 1 only
    2. 2 and 3
    3. 1 and 3
    4. 1, 2 and 3
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) 2 and 3

    India has no disclosure law, so statement 1 is wrong.

  1. Which test does NOT by itself make a party national?
    1. 6% votes in 4 states + 4 Lok Sabha seats
    2. 2% of Lok Sabha seats from 3 states
    3. State party in 4 states
    4. Forming the government in one state
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) Forming the government in one state

    Ruling one state is not a test; the other three are.

  2. ULFA and Naxalite groups are examples of which kind of pressure group?
    1. Institutional
    2. Associational
    3. Anomic
    4. Non-associational
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) Anomic

    Anomic groups use spontaneous, often unconstitutional action.

  3. Who headed the first non-Congress government at the Centre?
    1. Charan Singh
    2. Morarji Desai
    3. V.P. Singh
    4. Chandra Shekhar
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) Morarji Desai

    Janata government, 1977.

  4. The Central Information Commission’s 2013 order held that national parties are
    1. exempt from RTI
    2. public authorities under RTI
    3. constitutional bodies
    4. statutory bodies under the RP Act
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) public authorities under RTI

    Because of indirect state funding and their public functions.

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