CLASS NOTES POLITICAL SCIENCE

GRADE 10
CHAPTER – 2
FEDERALISM

Federalism - It is a system of government in which the power is divided between a central

authority and various other constituent units of the country. Example: India – Here the powers
are divided between centre, state and local level of government.

Q. How Federation is different from unitary government?

Ans. Under unitary system

a) There is one level of government or there are sub units but these sub units are sub ordinate to
central government.

b) Central government can pass orders to provincial and local government.

c) These sub units are answerable to the centre government and they do not have their own area
of jurisdiction.

In federation:

a) Central government cannot order the state government to do something.

b) State government has powers of its own and is validated by constitution for which it is
not answer able to central government.
c) State government and central government have their own areas of jurisdiction.

Q. What are the features of a federal government?

Key Features of Federalism

a) There are 2 or more tier (levels) of government.

b) Different tiers of government govern the same citizens but their area of jurisdiction is
different in the matters of administration, taxation, legislation etc.
c) The jurisdictions of the respective tiers of government are specified in the constitution.
Therefore their existence and authority is constitutionally validated.
 d) The fundamental provisions of the constitution cannot be unilaterally changed by 1 level
of government; consent of both the levels is required.
e) Court has the power to interpret the constitution and the powers of different levels of
government. The highest court acts as an umpire if dispute arises between different levels
of government.
f) Their sources are revenue is different to maintain financial autonomy.
g) Federal system has dual objective: - a) to safeguard and promote unity of the country and
b) to accommodate regional diversity.

Q. How federations are formed?

Ans.

COMING TOGETHER FEDERATION HOLDING TOGETHER FEDERATION

a) Here independent states come together to
form a bigger unit.
b) By pooling their sovereignty and retaining
their identity they can increase their security.
c) Example: U.S.A, Switzerland, Australia.
a) Here large country divides itself into smaller
units.
b) In this central government is more powerful,
it has broader area of jurisdiction than the state
government.
c) India, Spain, Belgium.

PART - 2
INDIA: A federal country

• India emerged as an independent nation after partition. 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 federations.
• The constitution originally provide a two-tier system of government i.e. Union
government and state government but later on 3rd tier was added i.e. local level
(Panchayats and Municipalities).

3 – FOLD distribution of legislative powers between centre and state governments.

Q. How are the legislative powers divided between Union and state government?

I) UNION LIST: it includes subjects of national importance such as defence, banking,

communication, currency etc. They are included in this list because we need a
uniform policy on these matters throughout the country. Union Government/ central
government is responsible to make laws on matters of this list.
 II) STATE LIST: It consists of subjects of state and local importance such as
agriculture, police, trade, irrigation etc. State government is responsible to make laws
on matters of this list.
III) CONCURRENT LIST: It includes subject of common interest to both Centre and
state such as education, forest, marriage etc. Both union and state government can
make laws on the matters in this list but in case of any conflict between Centre and
state then law made by union government will prevail.

Additional/ Other list:

Residuary list: It consists of subjects which are not mentioned in any of the three lists. Union
government makes law on the items in this list. Example: software.

Q. All the states of Indian union do not enjoy equal powers. Explain.

Ans. a) India has holding together federation which does not give equal powers to all of its
constituent units.

b) There are some states which enjoy special powers like previously JAMMU AND
KASHMIR. It had its own constitution and many provisions of Indian constitution were not
applicable to this state without the approval of state assembly of Jammu and Kashmir.

c) Indians who are not permanent residents of this state cannot buy land or house here.

d) There are few smaller units which enjoy little power. There areas are too small to become an
independent state and they cannot be merged with any other state, these areas like Chandigarh,
Lakshadweep and Delhi are called UNION TERRITORIES. They do not have power of state
and they are under the jurisdiction of central government.

Q. How can we change the power sharing arrangement between different levels of
government?

Ans. a) It is not easy to change the structure of power sharing between different levels of
government.
b) Any change has to be first passed by both the houses of Parliament
c) Then it has to be ratified by the legislatures of at least half of total states.

Q. Judiciary plays an important role in power sharing. Explain.

Ans. a) Judiciary plays an important role in overseeing the implementation of constitutional
provisions and procedures.
b) In case of any dispute related to division of powers between centre and state, the high court
and Supreme Court makes a decision.
c) Judiciary has right to interpret the provisions related to division of powers between centre and
state.

Note: The Union government and state government have the power to raise the resources by
imposing taxes.

PART – 3 : How is Federalism practised in India?

The nature of democratic politics in our country ensures success of federalism in India. There are
certain tests through which India has gone through to prove this.
1. Linguistic States
a) The political map of India in 1947 and in 2006 is drastically different. Areas, boundaries
and even names of many states have been changed.
b) In 1947 boundaries of many states were changed to ensure that people who spoke same
language lived in the same state.
c) In the beginning the central government resisted linguistic states but this division has
actually made the country more united.
d) There are few states which are carved out because of their distinct culture, geography and
ethnicity. Example:- Nagaland, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand etc.
e) Division on the basis of language has made governance and administration easy.

2. Language Policy
a) Our constitution did not give status of national language to any one language.
b) Hindi is recognized as official language but besides hindi there are 21 other scheduled
languages.
c) States too have their official language and all their official work is done in that language
only.
d) According to constitution the use of English for official purpose was to stop in 1965
however many non- Hindi speaking states demanded that the use of English should
continue. Therefore, central government continued the use of English along with hindi for
official purposes.
e) Promotion of Hindi continues to be the official policy of central government but this does
not mean Centre can impose Hindi on states.
Note: - A candidate appearing for central government exam can opt to give exam in any one
scheduled language.

3. Centre- State relations

a) Restructuring Centre- state relations ensured success of federalism.
 b) For a long time in India the same party ruled both at the Centre and state. In this case
states were forced to agree with centre’s decisions and they did not enjoy their autonomy.
c) Where the state governments were different the central government often undermines the
power of states and they used to dismiss them.
d) All this changed in 1990, this period is also associated with rise in regional parties and
the beginning of the era of coalition governments at the Centre. This led to new culture of
power sharing and autonomy of state governments.
e) In 1990, Supreme Court passed a law making it difficult for central government to
dismiss state government. Thus federal power sharing is more effective today than in
early years after the constitution came into force.

PART – 4 DECENTRALISATION

Q. What is decentralization?

Ans. When the power is taken from central and state government and given to local government.

Q. What was the rationale/reason/ need behind adding one more tier to levels of
government in India?

Ans. a) India is a vast country with states bigger than independent countries of Europe.

b) In terms of population also many states are huge. Example – UP is bigger than Russia in
terms of population.

c) Many states are internally very diverse which led to need for power sharing within these
states. This resulted in addition of third tier of government i.e. local level government.

Q. Write advantages of decentralization?

Ans. a) there are large no of problems and issues which are best settled at local level. Local
people have better knowledge of problems in their localities.
b) They also have better ideas on where to spend money and how to manage things more
efficiently.
c) At local level it is possible for the people to directly participate in decision making.
Therefore local government is the best way to realize one important principle of democracy i.e.
local self-governance.
DECENTRALISATION IN INDIA

Q. What provisions were added in the constitution to make third tier more powerful?
Ans. Earlier local level was not very powerful, there were no regular election and resources and
powers were not adequately given to them. This all changed in 1992 when the amendment was
done in the constitution to make it more powerful.

a) Constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to local government bodies.

b) Seats were reserved in elected bodies and executive heads of these institutions for SC, ST and
OBC.

c) 1/3rd of all positions are reserved for women.

d) Independent state election commission was formed to ensure free and fair elections at local
level.

e) State government is required to share some powers and revenue with local government. (It
varies from state to state).

RURAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT: PANCHAYATI RAJ

At village level-

a) Each village in states has Gram Panchayat.

Members of Gram panchayat are elected by all the adult population living in that ward or village,
which includes PANCH and their president, is SARPANCH.

b) Several Gram Panchayats are grouped together to form Panchayat Samiti. Members of this
representative body are elected by all panchayat members in that area.

c) Panchayat samiti is answerable to ZILA PARISHAD at district level.

At district level

a) ZilaParishad has elected members, all the MPs and MLAs from that district are its members.

b) Chairperson is political head of ZilaParishad.

URBAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT

a) Towns – Municipalities takes care of towns

b) Cities – Municipal Corporation takes care of cities.

• Both are controlled by elected people’s representatives.

• Municipal chairperson is the political head of the municipality.
• Mayor is the political head of Municipal Corporation.

DIFFICULTIES AT RURAL LEVEL

• Gram Sabhas are not held regularly.

• Most state governments did not pass significant powers to local governments.
• They do not get adequate resources.
Thus we have long way realizing the ideal self-governance.