Social Science

FEDERALISM
Meaning of Federalism
A system of government in which the power is divided between a central authority and various constituent units
of the country. Normally has two or more than two levels of governments. All levels of government enjoy their
power independent of the others.
Difference between Unitary and Federal government
Unitary system: Either there is only one level of government or the sub-units are subordinate to the central
government. The central government can pass on orders to the provincial or the local government.
Federal system: The central government cannot order the state government to do something. State govern-
ment has powers of its own, both these governments are seperately answerable to the people.
Key features of Federalism
Two or more levels of government
Different tiers of government govern the same citizens, but area of jurisdictions are different
The jurisdictions of each level are specified in the constitution.
Fundamental provisions of constitution cannot be changed by any one level of government.
Courts have the power to interpret the constitution and the powers of different levels of government.
Sources of revenue for each level are clearly specified.
Dual objectives: to safeguard and promote unity of the country and accommodate regional diversity.
Two kinds of routes to Federation

What makes India a Federal country?

The Constitution declared India as a Union of States. Although it did not use the word federation, the Indian
Union is based on the principles of federalism.
The Constitution originally provided for a two-tier system of government. Later, a third tier of federalism was
added.
Division of powers between the Union Government and the State Governments
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Some states enjoy a special status. Jammu and Kashmir has its own Constitution. Special provisions exist for
other States of India as well.
The parliament on its own make changes to the power sharing arrangement. Any change to it has to be first
passed by both the Houses of Parliament with at least two-thirds majority. Then it has to be ratified by the
legislatures of atleast half of the total States.
In case of any dispute about the divisions of powers, the High Courts and the Supreme Court make a decision.
How is Federalism practised?
Linguistic States
Some States were created to ensure that people who spoke the same language lived in the same State.
Some States were created to recognise differences based on culture, ethnicity or geography.
Language policy
Our Constitution does not give the status of national language to any one language.
Besides Hindi (the official language), there are 21 other languages recognised as Scheduled Languages by
the Constitution.
Centre-State relations
Before 1990 many States (ruled by the party which was also ruling over the Centre) did not exercise their
rights as autonomous federal units. Central Government often misuse the Constitution to dismiss the State
Governments.
After 1990, in the era of Coalition Governments, a new culture of power sharing and respect for the
autonomy of State Government has generated A major judgement of the Supreme Court has made it
difficult for the Central Government to dismiss the government in an arbitrary manner.
Decentralisation in India
Need
Meaning and its importance
73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992
(i) Has ensured regular elections to local government bodies.
(ii) Seats reserved for scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes.
(iii) One-third of all positions reserved for women.
Creation of State Election Commission to conduct panchayat and municipal elections.
State governments to share some powers and revenue with local government bodies.
Local Governments
Rural Urban
(A) Zila Parishads Municipal Corporation headed by Mayor
(B) Block Samitis Municipalities headed by a Chairman
(C) Panchayats
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Positive outcomes of Local Governments

Local government has helped to deepen democracy in our country.
Increased women’s representation and voice in our democracy.
Difficulties faced by Local Governments
Gram Sabhas are not held regularly.
Most state governments have not transferred significant powers to the local governments.
State governments have not given adequate resources to local governments.

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FEDERALISM EXERCISE
1. Identify the personality who said, “it is the formation 9. It is an area of functioning over which someone has
of linguistic states that has allowed India to escape legal authority to porform
what might have been a worse fate still”. (1) Jurisdiction (2) Area
(1) Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru (3) Federal Routes (4) None of these
(2) Bipin Chandra Pal 10. A rural local government is popularly known by the
(3) Ramachandra Guha name of
(4) Dr. Rajender Prasad (1) Panchayati Raj
2. In India, the relationship between the Centre and (2) Municipal Corporation
the States were deteriorated because of (3) Municipal Council
(1) formation of different parties’ government at (4) Ward Councils
both levels 11. Belgium was shifted from unitary form of
(2) insurgency government to federal form of government in 1993.
(3) Indo-Pak and Indo-China War What does it mean?

(4) End of Congress Era (1) The regional governments were given
constituatonal powers and were not dependent
3. The authority that has the power to run the
on the central government
administration of the Union Territories is
(2) The regional governments were under the
(1) Election Commissioner
control of the central government
(2) Governor
(3) Constitution prescribed that the Dutch and
(3) Central Government French ministers shall be equal in the central
(4) Chief Minister government
4. In case of clash between the laws made by the centre (4) Community government will undertake the
and a state on a subject in the concurrent list. powers of the central government
(1) The state law prevails 12. What are the dual objectives of the federal system?
(2) The central law prevails (1) To promote unity of the country and to
(3) Both the law prevail with their respective accommodate regional diversity
jurisdiction (2) To distribute powers and funds to the central
(4) The Supreme Court has to intervue to decide government

5. The year in which constitution was amended to make (3) To provide facilities and job to the citizens of
the three tier system more effective ad powerful. the country
(4) To ensure that the power would be transferred
(1) 1992 (2) 1957 (3) 1970 (4) 1982
from the state to the central government
6. Which of the following subjects is not included in
the state list? 13. According to the Indian Constitution in which year
English was to be ended as the language for official
(1) Law of order (2) National defence
purpose?
(3) Education (4) Agriculture
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(1) 1962 (2) 1999 (3) 1965 (4) 1954

7. The system of Panchayati Raj involves
14. Mark any one feature of the unitary form of
(1) Village, state and union level government
(2) Village, district and state level
(1) In a unitary government the powers are divided
(3) Village and state level between the centre and the state government
(4) Village, block and district level (2) All the power is with the people
8. The municipalities are set up in (3) Power is concentrated with the central
(1) big cities (2) towns government
(3) villages (4) districts (4) State government has all the powers

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15. Identify the type of government for which Tamilians 18. Choose the correct statement regarding language
are fighting in Sri Lanka policy of the Indian Government.
(1) unitary (2) federal (1) English is our national language
(3) community (4) tyrant (2) Citizens are free to choose any language as
national language
16. The centre and the State government raise the
resources t o meet the requi rements of (3) Hindi is our national language
administration by (4) Constitution of India did not declare any
(1) pursuing business activities language as national language
19. Identify the federation which is an example of
(2) forming cooperatives
‘pooling sovereignty and retaining identity’.
(3) levying taxes
(1) India (2) Canada
(4) setting up Public Sector Undertaking (PSU)
(3) U.K. (4) U.S.A.
17. Which of the following countries is an example of 20. How many other lanugages are recognised as
'coming together' federation? Scheduled languges by the constitution, besides
(1) India (2) Pakistan Hindi?
(3) USA (4) Sri Lanka (1) 20 (2) 21 (3) 18 (4) 19

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ANSWER KEY
Que. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Ans. 3 1 2 4 1 1 4 2 3 1 1 1 3 2 2 3 3 4 4 2