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Read the given source and… (Social Science 2025 32/1/1 Q35)

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Social ScienceCBSE Class 10 · Board exam 2025, set 32/1/1 · 4 marks · Case-based

CBSE Class 10 Social Science 2025: question 35

Set in the CBSE Class 10 board exam of 2025, paper 32/1/1, section E, question 35, for 4 marks. Try it first; the hints and our step-by-step solution are below.

Q35 · 4 marks · Case-basedCompetency-basedFederalism

Read the given source and answer the questions that follow :

An Experiment in Brazil

A city called Porto Alegre in Brazil has carried out an extraordinary experiment in combining decentralisation with participative democracy. The city has set up a parallel organisation operating alongside the municipal council, enabling local inhabitants to take real decisions for their city. The nearly 13 lakh people in this city get to participate in making the budget for their own city. The city is divided into many sectors or what we call wards. Each sector has a meeting, like that of the gram sabha, in which anyone living in that area can participate. There are some meetings to discuss issues that affect the entire city. Any citizen of the city can participate in those meetings. The budget of the city is discussed in these meetings. The proposals are put to the municipality that takes a final decision about it.

  1. (35.1)

    Explain the meaning of 'participatory democracy'.

    1 mark
  2. (35.2)

    In the context of separation of powers, the given example defines which type of government ?

    1 mark
  3. (35.3)

    Describe the structure of the system in India which is almost similar to the above example of Brazil.

    2 marks

Source: official question paper from cbse.gov.in (PDF). See it in the full 2025 board paper, set 32/1/1.

Hints

Open one hint at a time and try again before the next.

Hint 1

Think of people directly taking part in the budget.

Hint 2

Which level of government works at the city and ward level?

Hint 3

Recall the rural and urban local bodies in India, and the Gram Sabha.

Step-by-step solution

Each step shows the marks it earns, as an examiner would award them. Checked by an independent re-solve from the question paper.

  1. (35.1) Participatory democracy means people take part directly in decision making, as the citizens of Porto Alegre do in preparing their city budget.

    1 mark

  2. (35.2) The example shows local self-government, because power is shared with the lowest level of government.

    1 mark

  3. (35.3) India's similar structure is the Panchayati Raj in rural areas and municipalities and municipal corporations in urban areas.

    1 mark

  4. All these local bodies are elected by the people. In the Gram Sabha of a village, all adults of the area participate directly in discussion and decisions, like the ward meetings in Porto Alegre.

    1 mark

Answer: (35.1) Direct involvement of people in decision making. (35.2) Local self-government. (35.3) Panchayati Raj, municipalities and municipal corporations, with elected bodies and the Gram Sabha.

Where the marks are

  • Meaning of participatory democracy (1 mark)
  • Local self-government (1 mark)
  • Panchayati Raj, municipality and municipal corporation (1 mark)
  • Elected bodies and the Gram Sabha as direct participation (1 mark)

Revise the chapter

Practise this chapterBoard-style questions from Federalism, one at a time, marked against the answer key and marking points.Back to the full paper2025 board paper, set 32/1/1: every question, by section.

The question is transcribed from the official paper; figures are described in words. The solution, hints and chapter tag are ours. Spotted an error? Write tosupport@questionbuddy.in.