__________ is a form of government where power is exercised by a group of men.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Oligarchy
Option (1) Monarchy — Incorrect. A monarchy is rule by one person, a king or a queen, usually by inheritance. Power rests with a single ruler, not with a group.
Option (2) Oligarchy — Correct. Oligarchy refers to a form of government where power is exercised by a group of men. The Roman Republic was an oligarchy in spite of its name, and some mahajanapadas, known as ganas or sanghas, were oligarchies where power was shared by a number of men.
Option (3) Dyarchy — Incorrect. A dyarchy is a dual government, in which power is shared between two rulers or two authorities.
Option (4) Anarchy — Incorrect. Anarchy is the absence of any government or authority. It is not a form of government at all.
Note: The concepts in Options (1), (3) and (4), ‘Monarchy’, ‘Dyarchy’ and ‘Anarchy’, are not in NCERT (2026-27); explained here for the benefit of the students.
NCERT (2026-27): “Oligarchy refers to a form of government where power is exercised by a group of men. The Roman Republic, about which you read last year, was an oligarchy in spite of its name. 2.1 The sixteen mahajanapadas … While most mahajanapadas were ruled by kings, some, known as ganas or sanghas, were oligarchies (p. 30), where power was shared by a number of men, often collectively called rajas.…” |