Question

From a prudential viewpoint, which of the following arguments best supports the idea of power sharing?

• A. It is morally correct
• B. It upholds democratic ideals
• C. It reduces the chances of social unrest
• D. It guarantees equal economic growth for all sections.

Hint:

Prudential means based on gains and practical results. Pick the option that talks about a practical benefit, not about values.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understand the word prudential:
NCERT gives two kinds of arguments in favour of power sharing: prudential reasons and moral reasons.
Prudential reasons are about practical gains and losses. They say power sharing is useful because it gives better results.
Moral reasons say power sharing is valuable in itself, because it is the right thing to do and it matches the spirit of democracy.

Step 2: Recall the prudential argument:
The main prudential argument is that power sharing helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups.
Social conflict often leads to violence and political instability. Sharing power with different groups keeps the country stable and united. Belgium succeeded in this way, while Sri Lanka suffered a civil war.

Step 3: Check option A:
Saying that power sharing is morally correct is a moral argument, not a prudential one. So option A is wrong.

Step 4: Check option B:
Upholding democratic ideals is also a moral argument, because it talks about values and the spirit of democracy. So option B is wrong.

Step 5: Check option C:
Reducing the chances of social unrest is a practical benefit. It fits the prudential view exactly. So option C is correct.

Step 6: Check option D:
Power sharing does not promise equal economic growth for every section. It deals with political power, not income. So option D is wrong.

Final Answer:
The prudential argument is the one that points to a practical gain, which is less social unrest. The correct choice is option C. \[ \boxed{\text{Option C}} \]