FEDERALISM IN

INDIA
WEEK 4 TASK BY-
SMAIRA NARULA
 MEANING-
• It is a system of government in which the power is divided between a
central and various constituent unit of a country.
• Both these levels of government enjoy their power independent of the
other.
 Federalism has two level of government-

• 1. Government for the entire country:

Responsible for a few subjects of common national interest.

• 2. Government at the level of provinces or states:

Look after day to day administering of their state
 KEY FEATURES -
• There are two or more levels (or tiers) of government .
• Different tiers of government govern the same citizens, but each tier has
its own in specific matters of legislation , taxation and administration .
• The jurisdiction of the respective levels of government are specified in the
constitution. So the existence and the authority of each tier of government
is constitutionally guaranteed.
 KEY FEATURES-
• The fundamental provisions of the constitution cannot be changed by one
level of government. Such changes require the consent of both the levels
of government .
• Courts have the power to interpret the constituition and the powers of
different levels of government. The highest court acts as an umpire if
disputes arise between different levels of government in the exercise of
their powers.
 WHAT MAKES INDIA A FEDERAL
COUNTRY?
• The Constitution originally provided for a two-tier system of government,
the Union Government or what we call the Central Government,
representing the Union of India and the State government. Later the third
tier of federalism was added in the form of Panchayats and municipalities.
 2 TYPES OF FEDERATIONS-

• Coming Together→ Independent states coming together on their own to

form a bigger unit, so that by pooling sovereignty and retaining identity
they can increase their security.Eg- USA, Switzerland and Australia.
• Holding Together → A large country decides to divide its power between
the constituent State and the national government. Example: India,
Spain and Belgium
CONSTITUTION CONTAINS 3 LISTS-
• 1.Union List: It includes areas of national importance like defence, foreign affairs,
currency, banking, and communications. The union government holds the powers to
make laws on the regions mentioned in the union list.
• 2. State List: It includes areas of state-level and local importance like agriculture, trade,
commerce, irrigation, and police. The state government alone has the power to make laws
regarding the subjects on this list.
• 3. Concurrent List: It includes subjects that are of common interest to both the central and
state governments. It includes trade unions, forest, education, marriage, succession, and
adoption. Both the centre and state can make laws on these subjects. If there is a conflict,
the laws made by the centre will prevail.
THANK
YOU !