Which of the following are characteristics of a political party? (A)…

The correct answer is Option (1) → (A), (B) and (D) only

Note: The given answer is as per the official NTA Answer Key. However, there seems to be an ambiguity in the question. Statement (C) is the NCERT book’s definition of civil society, and the same book names political parties among the organisations of civil society; so, going by the book, (C) is also true of a political party, though no option carries all four statements. Read strictly, (C) defines civil society as a whole and not a political party, as explained below.

(A) It is oriented to achieve legitimate control of government. Correct. A political party may be defined as an organisation oriented towards achieving legitimate control of government through an electoral process. It aims at governmental power so that it can use that power to pursue a specific programme.

(B) It can emerge from long term social movements. Correct. Some political organisations seek power but are denied it through standard means; such organisations are best regarded as movements until they achieve recognition, after which they work as parties.

(C) It is a non-state and non-market part of the public domain. Should be Correct, but has been taken as Incorrect as per the NTA answer key. These words define civil society: the arena outside the family, the state and the market, where people get together voluntarily. Civil society includes political parties, media institutions, trade unions and NGOs, as long as they are not state-controlled and not purely profit-making, so a party fits this description too. Read strictly, however, (C) describes civil society as a whole, while a party aims to take control of the state.

(D) In it individuals get together voluntarily based on certain understanding of society and how it ought to be. Correct. Political parties are based on certain understanding of society and how it ought to be, and people join a party of their own choice because they share that understanding.