Federalism – Class 10 Social Science notes, important questions and MCQs

Chapter overview

Federalism is a system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and its constituent units. India is a federal country with three tiers of government. Linguistic states, language policy, centre–state relations and decentralisation have made Indian federalism work.

What makes a country federal

• There are two or more levels of government, each with its own jurisdiction in legislation, taxation and administration.
• Jurisdictions are specified in the constitution, and fundamental provisions cannot be changed by one level alone.
• Courts interpret the constitution and settle disputes between levels; sources of revenue are clearly specified.
• 'Coming together' federations (USA, Switzerland, Australia) and 'holding together' federations (India, Spain, Belgium).

Federalism in India

• The Union List has subjects of national importance such as defence, foreign affairs, banking, communications and currency.
• The State List has subjects such as police, trade, commerce, agriculture and irrigation; the Concurrent List has education, forest, trade unions, marriage, adoption and succession.
• Residuary subjects, not in any list, go to the Union government.
• Some units such as Union Territories have little power and are run largely by the Union government.

How federalism is practised

• Linguistic states were created from 1956 onwards; language policy gave no national language status to any one language, with Hindi as an official language and 22 scheduled languages.
• Centre–state relations improved after the era of coalition governments.
• Decentralisation through the 1992 constitutional amendment: regular elections to local bodies, reserved seats for SC, ST and OBC, at least one-third seats for women, and State Election Commissions.
• Rural local government: gram panchayat (with the gram sabha), panchayat samiti and zila parishad; urban: municipalities and municipal corporations.

Key terms

Federalism

a system in which power is divided between a central authority and its constituent units

Residuary subjects

subjects not included in any of the three lists, given to the Union government

Decentralisation

taking power from the central and state governments and giving it to local government

Gram sabha

all the voters of a village, which elects the panchayat and reviews its work

Important questions with answers

Quick revision

• Federal = two or more levels with constitutional guarantees.
• Union, State and Concurrent lists; residuary with Union.
• Coming together vs holding together.
• 1992 amendment: one-third seats for women in local bodies.

Exam tips

• Remember examples for each list: Union (defence), State (police), Concurrent (education).
• For decentralisation answers, list the key features of the 1992 amendment.

Practice MCQs

1. Defence is a subject in the

   1. Union List
   2. State List
   3. Concurrent List
   4. Residuary List
   Show answer

   Answer: (a) Union List. It is of national importance.

2. Education is a subject in the

   1. Union List
   2. State List
   3. Concurrent List
   4. none of these
   Show answer

   Answer: (c) Concurrent List. Both the Union and states can make laws on it.

3. The lowest tier of rural local government is the

   1. zila parishad
   2. panchayat samiti
   3. gram panchayat
   4. municipal corporation
   Show answer

   Answer: (c) gram panchayat. It works at the village level.

4. India is an example of a

   1. coming together federation
   2. holding together federation
   3. unitary state
   4. confederation
   Show answer

   Answer: (b) holding together federation. Power was divided among units of a large country.

5. Residuary subjects come under the

   1. state governments
   2. Supreme Court
   3. local bodies
   4. Union government
   Show answer

   Answer: (d) Union government. Computer software is an example.

6. The 1992 amendment made it compulsory to reserve for women at least

   1. one-third of seats
   2. one-fourth of seats
   3. half of seats
   4. one-tenth of seats
   Show answer

   Answer: (a) one-third of seats. This applies to local government bodies.

7. Which of these is not a feature of federalism

   1. two or more levels of government
   2. jurisdiction specified in the constitution
   3. courts act as umpire
   4. one level can change the constitution alone
   Show answer

   Answer: (d) one level can change the constitution alone. Fundamental provisions need consent of both levels.

8. Which statement about India's language policy is correct

   1. Hindi is the national language
   2. No language was given the status of national language; Hindi is an official language with 22 scheduled languages
   3. English was banned
   4. Every state must use Hindi
   Show answer

   Answer: (b) No language was given the status of national language; Hindi is an official language with 22 scheduled languages. This flexible policy avoided conflict.