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Home › Exam notes › UPSC Civil Services › Federalism

Federalism

Political Science / Civics

Useful for: UPSC Civil Services, OSSC RHT — Regular High School Teacher, OSEPA Upper Primary — Arts, OSSC Political Science, OSSSC Govt TGT Arts, SSB Lecturer (Degree Colleges), SSB TGT Arts

हिंदी में पढ़ें

Overview

India is a federation with a strong Centre: powers are divided by the Seventh Schedule, and cooperative institutions manage overlaps and disputes.

Key points

  • Legislative powers are divided into Union, State and Concurrent Lists; residuary powers lie with Parliament (Article 248).
  • Article 249 lets Parliament legislate on a State List subject after a Rajya Sabha resolution (two-thirds present and voting).
  • Article 252 lets Parliament legislate for two or more states at their request.
  • President’s Rule (Article 356) was limited by S. R. Bommai (1994): floor test and judicial review.
  • Finance Commission (Article 280) recommends tax devolution; GST Council (Article 279A) is an instrument of cooperative federalism.
  • Sarkaria Commission (1983) and Punchhi Commission (2007) reviewed Centre–state relations; the Inter-State Council (Article 263) was set up in 1990.

Explanation

  • On Concurrent List conflicts, Union law prevails (Article 254), subject to presidential assent for state laws.
  • Zonal Councils are statutory bodies under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956.
  • All-India Services serve both the Centre and states.
  • Governor’s discretion and reservation of bills (Article 200) are friction points.
  • Asymmetric federalism: special provisions in Article 371 for some states.

Step by step

  1. Identify the concept, law or fact asked.
  2. Recall the definition, formula, example or year.
  3. Apply it and eliminate mismatched options.

Examples

  • Statement: "Residuary powers belong to the states." → Incorrect (Union, Article 248).
  • Statement: "Bommai (1994) made the floor test central to proving majority." → Correct.
  • Statement: "The Inter-State Council is a constitutional provision under Article 263." → Correct.

Traps and advanced points

  • Trap: Giving residuary powers to states.
  • Trap: Calling Zonal Councils constitutional.
  • Trap: Mixing Articles 249 and 252.

Quick revision

  • Art 248 residuary → Union.
  • Bommai 1994.
  • Sarkaria 1983, Punchhi 2007.

Practice MCQs

  1. From the perspective of definition and scope, which one of the following statements about Federalism & Centre-State Relations is correct?

    1. Federalism & Centre-State Relations has no exceptions or limitations in exam analysis.
    2. Legislative subjects are distributed through the Union, State and Concurrent Lists.
    3. All residuary legislative subjects automatically belong to State Legislatures.
    4. Federalism & Centre-State Relations is unrelated to institutions, processes or real-world applications.

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    Answer: (b) Legislative subjects are distributed through the Union, State and Concurrent Lists.. Legislative subjects are distributed through the Union, State and Concurrent Lists.

  2. Consider the following statements on Federalism & Centre-State Relations, focusing on definition and scope: 1. All residuary legislative subjects automatically belong to State Legislatures. 2. Legislative subjects are distributed through the Union, State and Concurrent Lists. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2

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    Show answer

    Answer: (b) 2 only. Statement 2 is correct; Statement 1 is a common misconception.

  3. With reference to Federalism & Centre-State Relations (definition and scope), consider the following statements: 1. All residuary legislative subjects automatically belong to State Legislatures. 2. Indian federalism contains both federal features and strong unitary features, especially during specified emergencies. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2

    Read chapter notes · Similar questions

    Show answer

    Answer: (b) 2 only. Only statement 2 is correct.

  4. Consider the following statements on Federalism & Centre-State Relations, focusing on institutional design: 1. All residuary legislative subjects automatically belong to State Legislatures. 2. Residuary legislative power belongs to Parliament under the constitutional scheme. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2

    Read chapter notes · Similar questions

    Show answer

    Answer: (b) 2 only. Statement 2 is correct; Statement 1 is a common misconception.

  5. With reference to Federalism & Centre-State Relations (working mechanism), consider the following statements: 1. Inter-State Council and Finance Commission perform distinct coordinating and fiscal roles. 2. All residuary legislative subjects automatically belong to State Legislatures. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2

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    Show answer

    Answer: (a) 1 only. Only statement 1 is correct.

  6. With reference to Federalism & Centre-State Relations (institutional design), consider the following statements: 1. Indian federalism contains both federal features and strong unitary features, especially during specified emergencies. 2. All residuary legislative subjects automatically belong to State Legislatures. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2

    Read chapter notes · Similar questions

    Show answer

    Answer: (a) 1 only. Only statement 1 is correct.

  7. From the perspective of practical application, which one of the following statements about Federalism & Centre-State Relations is correct?

    1. The Supreme Court has original, appellate and advisory jurisdictions in constitutionally specified matters.
    2. The Election Commission, CAG, Finance Commission and UPSC derive their core status from the Constitution.
    3. The Preamble states the nature of the Indian state and constitutional goals such as justice, liberty, equality and fraternity.
    4. Indian federalism contains both federal features and strong unitary features, especially during specified emergencies.

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    Answer: (d) Indian federalism contains both federal features and strong unitary features, especially during specified emergencies.. Indian federalism contains both federal features and strong unitary features, especially during specified emergencies.

  8. Consider the following statements on Federalism & Centre-State Relations, focusing on working mechanism: 1. Inter-State Council and Finance Commission perform distinct coordinating and fiscal roles. 2. All residuary legislative subjects automatically belong to State Legislatures. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2

    Read chapter notes · Similar questions

    Show answer

    Answer: (a) 1 only. Statement 1 is correct; Statement 2 is a common misconception.

  9. With reference to Federalism & Centre-State Relations (practical application), consider the following statements: 1. Residuary legislative power belongs to Parliament under the constitutional scheme. 2. All residuary legislative subjects automatically belong to State Legislatures. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2

    Read chapter notes · Similar questions

    Show answer

    Answer: (a) 1 only. Only statement 1 is correct, so the answer is (A) 1 only. Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is incorrect — it is an overstated or wrong claim. Correct position: Election Commission conducts elections to Parliament, state legislatures, and offices of President and Vice-President.

  10. Consider the following statements on Federalism & Centre-State Relations, focusing on practical application: 1. Indian federalism contains both federal features and strong unitary features, especially during specified emergencies. 2. All residuary legislative subjects automatically belong to State Legislatures. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2

    Read chapter notes · Similar questions

    Show answer

    Answer: (a) 1 only. Only statement 1 is correct, so the answer is (A) 1 only. Statement 1 is correct; Statement 2 is a common misconception. Trap: All residuary legislative subjects automatically belong to State Legislatures.

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Notes and questions are written by Kundali IQ for practice. They are not official papers; always check the latest official notification for the syllabus and pattern.