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Read the given source… (Social Science 2026 32/4/1 Q28)

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Social ScienceCBSE Class 10 · Board exam 2026, set 32/4/1 · 4 marks · Case-based

CBSE Class 10 Social Science 2026: question 28

Set in the CBSE Class 10 board exam of 2026, paper 32/4/1, section C, question 28, for 4 marks. Try it first; the hints and our step-by-step solution are below.

Q28 · 4 marks · Case-basedCompetency-basedPower-sharing

Read the given source carefully and answer the questions that follow:
Power Sharing
Power is shared among different organs of government, such as the legislature, executive and judiciary. Let us call this horizontal distribution of power because it allows different organs of government placed at the same level to exercise different powers. Such a separation ensures that none of the organs can exercise unlimited power. Each organ checks the others. This results in a balance of power among various institutions. Last year, we studied that in a democracy, even though ministers and government officials exercise power, they are responsible to the Parliament or State Assemblies. Similarly, although judges are appointed by the executive, they can check the functioning of executive or laws made by the legislatures. This arrangement is called a system of checks and balances.

  1. 28.1

    Explain the term 'Balance of Power'.

    1 mark
  2. 28.2

    Why is the judiciary considered independent in a democracy?

    1 mark
  3. 28.3

    How is power shared among different organs of government?

    2 marks

Source: official question paper from cbse.gov.in (PDF). See it in the full 2026 board paper, set 32/4/1.

Hints

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

Hint 1

Re-read the passage line on 'none of the organs'.

Hint 2

Ask who can check the executive's functioning.

Hint 3

Name the three organs and say what each one does.

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. (i) Balance of power means no organ of government can exercise unlimited power, because each organ checks the others.

    1 mark

  2. (ii) Although judges are appointed by the executive, they can check the working of the executive and the laws made by the legislature. This shows the judiciary acts independently.

    1 mark

  3. (iii) Power is shared horizontally among three organs: the legislature, the executive and the judiciary. They are placed at the same level and exercise different powers.

    1 mark

  4. The legislature makes laws, the executive implements them, and the judiciary interprets laws and settles disputes.

    1 mark

Answer: (i) No organ has unlimited power; each checks the others. (ii) Judges can check the executive and the legislature's laws. (iii) Legislature makes laws, executive implements them, judiciary interprets laws and resolves disputes.

Where the marks are

  • Balance of power: no organ unlimited, each checks others (1 mark)
  • Judiciary independent as it can check executive and legislature (1 mark)
  • Three organs at the same level exercise different powers (1 mark)
  • Functions: make, implement, interpret laws (1 mark)

Revise the chapter

Practise this chapterBoard-style questions from Power-sharing, one at a time, marked against the answer key and marking points.Back to the full paper2026 board paper, set 32/4/1: 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.