GRADE X

POLITICAL SCIENCE:CH-2 FEDERALISM

SESSION:- 2023-2024

Q. What is Federalism?
It is a system of government in which the power is divided between a central authority andvarious other
constituent units of the country. Example: India – Here the powers are divided between centre, state and
local level of government. There is vertical division of powers.

Usually Federation has 2 levels:

a) Government for the entire country – They are responsible for subject of commonnational interests.
b) Government at province or state – They are responsible for day to day administratingof the state.
Note: They both are independent of each other.
In the world there are 25 countries which follow Federal structure of government.

Q. How Federation is different from unitary government?

FEDERAL UNITARY
Two or more levels. Either 1 level or the sub units are subordinate to
Levels are answerable to people. the central government.
Central government cannot pass theorders to states Central government can pass the ordersto
especially in case ofitems under state jurisdiction. provincial or local governments.
State government enjoys power of its own for No special powers are given to subunits for every
which they are not answerableto central action they are answerable to central government.
government.

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 isdifferent 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 are constitutionally validated.
d) The fundamental provisions of the constitution cannot be unilaterally changed by 1 levelof 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 levelsof 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.
Note: 2 important aspects of Federalism: Mutual trust and agreement to live together.
• Government at different levels should agree to certain rules of power sharing.
• Trust each other that they would abide by its part of the agreement.

Q. How federations are formed?

COMING TOGETHER FEDERATION HOLDING TOGETHER FEDERATION
a) Here independent states come together toform a a) Here large country divides itself into smaller
bigger unit. units.
 b) By pooling their sovereignty and retainingtheir b) In this central government is more powerful,it
identity they can increase their security. has broader area of jurisdiction than the state
government.
c) Example: U.S.A, Switzerland, Australia.All of c) India, Spain, Belgium.
them have equal powers. Different constituent units have differentpowers.

INDIA: A FEDERAL COUNTRY

• India emerged as an independent nation after partition. The constitution declared India asa union of states.
Although it did not use the word Federation, the Indian Union is based on the principles of federations.
• The constitution originally provides 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).
THREE 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 defense, banking,communication,
currency etc. They are included in this list because we need a uniform policy on these matters
throughout the country. Union Government/ centralgovernment are 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 lawson matters of this list.
III) CONCURRENT LIST: It includes subject of common interest to both Centre andstate 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 andstate then law made by union government will
prevail.
IV) RESIDUARY LIST: It consists of subjects which are not mentioned inany 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.
1) India has holding together federation which does not give equal powers to all of itsconstituent units.

2) There are some states which use to enjoy special powers

Eg:-
a) Some other States enjoy a special status such as- Assam, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram
enjoy special powers under certain provisions of the Constitution of India (Article 371) due to their peculiar
social and historical circumstances.
These special powers are especially enjoyed in relation to the protection of land rights of indigenous
peoples, their culture and also preferential employment in government service.

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

Q. How can we change the power sharing arrangement between different levels ofgovernment?
a) It is not easy to change the structure of power sharing between different levels ofgovernment.
b) Any change has to be first passed by both the houses of Parliament by 2/3rd majority.
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.

1) Judiciary plays an important role in overseeing the implementation of constitutionalprovisions and
procedures.
2) In case of any dispute related to division of powers between Centre and state, the high courtand Supreme
Court makes a decision.
3) Judiciary has right to interpret the provisions related to division of powers between Centre andstate.

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

Q. Although Indian Union is federal in nature still the centre enjoys unitary powers.Explain.
a) Centre enjoys more power in case of concurrent list. In case of any clash on any itembetween centre and
state, then the decision taken by centre is final.
b) In case of items in residuary list, centre has power to make laws.
c) Centre has control over the administration of union territories.

Other important question:

Q. Which five provisions of Indian constitution make India a full - fledged federation?
1) THREE-TIER OF GOVERNMENT: India follows the principle of vertical power sharing. Thepowers are
shared between Centre, state and local levels of government (panchayat and municipalities).

2) AREA OF JURISDICTION IS DIFFERENT:- The three levels of government govern the same citizens
buttheir area of jurisdiction is different and is constitutionally validated. In India the powers are divided
between Centre and states by three lists – Union list, state list and concurrent list. Centremakes the law on
the items in union list, state makes the law on the items in state list and both can make the laws on the item
in concurrent list.

3) AMENDMENT IN POWER SHARING ARRANGEMENT/ RIGID CONSTITUTION – Our

constitution is rigid; thismeans changing the power sharing arrangement is not an easy task. For any change
it has to be passed by both the houses by 2/3rd majority along with ratification of half of the state
legislatures.

4) FINANCIAL AUTONOMY – The sources of revenue for centre and state governments are different.This
ensures financial autonomy to both.

5) INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY – Independent judiciary is an essence for federal government. Judiciaryhas

the power to interpret the constitution and powers of different levels of government. Supreme court acts as
an umpire if a dispute arises between the different levels of government.
HOW IS FEDERALISM PRACTISED IN INDIA?
Q. How has federalism succeeded in India? Which policies adopted by India have ensuredthis success?
Or
How is federalism practiced in India?
Or
The nature of democratic politics in our country ensures success of federalism in India.Explain.

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, boundariesand even names of
many states have been changed.
b) In 1947 boundaries of many states were changed to ensure that people who spoke samelanguage lived in the
same state.
c) In the beginning the central government resisted linguistic states as some national leadersfelt division on
basis of language this might lead to disintegration 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 andethnicity.
Example:- Nagaland, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand etc.
e) Division on the basis of language has made governance 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 scheduledlanguages.
c) States too have their official language and all their official work is done in that languageonly.
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 forofficial purposes.
e) Promotion of Hindi continues to be the official policy of central government but this doesnot mean Centre
can impose Hindi on states.
Note: - A candidate appearing for central government exam can opt for any one scheduledlanguage.

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 casestates 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 thepower of states and
they use 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 ofpower 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 inearly years after the constitution
came into force.

DECENTRALISATION

Q. What is decentralization?
When the power is taken from central and state government and given to local government.

Q. What were the rationale/reason/ need behind adding one more tier to levels ofgovernment in India?
a) India is a vast country with states bigger than independent countries of Europe. In terms of population also
many states are huge. Example – UP is bigger than Russia in terms ofpopulation.
b) Many states are internally very diverse which led to need for power sharing within thesestates. This
resulted in addition of third tier of government i.e. local level government.
c) There are large no of problems and issues which are best settled at local level. Local peoplehave better
knowledge of problems in their localities.
d) They also have better ideas on where to spend money and how to manage things moreefficiently.
e) 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?
Earlier local level was not very powerful, there were no regular election and resources andpowers 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 andOBC.
c) 1/3rd of all positions are reserved for women.
d) Independent state election commission was formed to ensure free and fair elections at locallevel.
e) State government is required to share some powers and revenue with local government. (Itvaries from
state to state).

PANCHAYATI RAJ SYSTEM IN INDIA

LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN RURAL AREAS:-

1] VILLAGE LEVEL:-
a) Each village in states has Gram Panchayat.
b) Members of Gram Panchayat including Panch and Sarpanch - are elected by all the adult population
living in that ward or village (GRAM SABHA). Gram sabha - Meet twice or thrice Supervise the
working of gram Panchayat, approves annual budget of gram Panchayat, reviewstheir performance.
c) Several Gram Panchayats are grouped together to form Panchayat Samiti. Members of this
representative body are elected by all panchayat members in that area.
d) Panchayat samiti is answerable to ZILA PARISHAD at district level.

2] AT DISTRICT LEVEL:-
a) Zila Parishad has elected members; all the MPs and MLAs from that district are its members.
b) Chairperson is political head of Zila Parishad.

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.
7ACHIEVEMENTS OF LOCAL SELF GOVERNANCE:-
a) In India Local self-governance is the largest experiment in democracy with nearly 36 lakhelected
representatives at present.
b) Constitutional status to local government has deepened the democracy as it promotes directpeople’s
participation.
c) It has also increased women’s representation and voice in our democracy.

CASE STUDY: BRAZIL – LOCAL LEVEL GOVT. IN CITY OF PORTO ALEGRE

• People here combined decentralization with participative democracy.
• The city is divided into wards/sectors and each sector holds meeting, anyone living inarea can
participate.
• 13 lakh people were involved in making budget.
• The city is divided into many sectors or what we call wards. Each sector has a meeting, like that of the
gram sabha, in which anyone living in that area can participate.
• There are some meetings to discuss issues that affect the entire city. Any citizen of the city can
participate in those meetings.
• The budget of the city is discussed in these meetings. The proposals are put to the municipality that
takes a final decision about it. About 20,000 people participate in this decision-making exercise every
year.
• A similar experiment has taken place in some areas in Kerala. Ordinary people have participated in
making a plan for the development of their locality