Q.The challenge in which politicians intrude into the management and working of a co-operative society, so that decisions are guided by political rather than economic considerations, is called:

The clue in the question is the entry of politicians and politics into the society's management, which is the definition of one specific challenge.

Financial weakness is about shortage of funds, weak management is about lack of trained managers, and over-regulation is control by government departments — none of these is about politicians as such.

The challenge described — politicians and politics intruding into a society's management so that decisions are guided by political rather than economic considerations — is the definition of political interference.

Option-by-option analysis:

• (a) Financial weakness — incorrect. This refers to shortage of capital and poor financial health (low share capital, overdues, losses), not to the entry of politicians.
• (b) Political interference — correct. Large co-operatives control money, jobs and members, which makes them bases of political power; when politicians capture and run them for political ends, decisions become political rather than economic, harming efficiency, finances and democratic control.
• (c) Lack of professional management — incorrect. This is about committee members and staff lacking business skills, a different problem (though weak management can accompany political control).
• (d) Government over-regulation — incorrect. This is excessive control by the government/co-operative department, not intrusion by politicians into the society's own management.