FEDERALISM

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

Question 1: Describe the three-fold distribution of legislative powers between the union government
and state government.
It contains three lists:
(i) Union List: It includes subjects of national importance such as defence of the country, foreign affairs,
banking, communications and currency. They are included in this list because we need a uniform policy on
these matters throughout the country.

(ii) State List: The list contains subjects of state and local importance such as police, trade, commerce,
agriculture and irrigation. The state governments alone can make laws relating to the subjects mentioned
in the state list.

(iii) Concurrent List: Includes subjects of common interest to both, the Union government as well as the
State government such as education, forests, trade unions, marriage, adoption and succession. Both the
Union as well as State governments can make laws on the subjects mentioned in this list. If their laws
conflict with each other, the law made by the Union government prevails.

Question 2: How is power shared in a coalition government?

i. After 1990, there was the rise of regional political parties as well as the beginning of the era of
'Coalition Governments' at the Centre.
ii. Since no single party got a clear majority in the Lok Sabha, the major national parties had to enter into
an alliance with many parties including several regional parties to form a government at the centre.
iii. This trend was supported by Supreme Court that made it difficult for the Central Government to
dismiss state government whenever they want.
iv. Thus it is more effective today than it was in the early years after the Constitution came into force.

Question 3: Distinguish between ‘coming together federation’ and ‘holding together federations’ with
examples. India comes under which type of federation?
Coming Together Federation Holding Together Federations
It involves independent states coming together on a large country decides to divide its power
their own to form a bigger unit, so that to bring between the constituent states and the national
sovereignty and retaining identity, they can government
increase their security.
In this category of federation, all the constituent In this kind of federalism Central government
states usually have equal powers and are strong as tends to be more powerful than the states.
a federal government. Different constituent states have unequal powers
and some are granted special powers.
E.g.: USA, Australia eg. India, Spain, Belgium, etc.

Question 4: Which five provisions of the Indian constitution make India a full-
fledged federation? Explain.
Five Provisions of the Indian constitution to make India a full- fledged federations are as follows-
i. There are two or more levels of government.
ii. Different tiers of government govern the same citizens, but each tier has its own jurisdiction.
iii. The jurisdiction of the respective levels or tiers of government are specified in the constitution.
iv. The fundamental provisions of the constitution cannot be unilaterally changed by one level of the
government.
v. Sources of revenue for each level of government are clearly specified to ensure its financial autonomy.
vi. Courts have the power to interpret the constitution
vii. So, an ideal federal system has both aspects-mutual trust and agreement to live together.
 Question 5: What is the rational decentralization of power? Describe the functions of rural local
government.
Rational Decentralization of Power
i. Decentralisation of Power was most important feature of Indian Constitution when it formed third
division of power by involving Local government.
ii. The basic idea behind decentralisation is that, there are large number of problems and issues which are
best settled at the local level.
iii. People have better knowledge of problems in their localities.
iv. They also have better ideas on where to spend the money and how to manage things more efficiently.
v. At the local level, it is possible for the people to directly participate in decision-making. This helps to
inculcate a habit of democratic participation.

Functions of Rural Local Government

 Providing health facilities by setting up dispensaries and health centres.
 Looking after the welfare of the weaker sections of society.
 Constructing and repairing roads bridges, drains, wells and tanks.
 Supplying clean drinking water.
 Keeping the roads and streets clean.
 Providing primary education.

Question 6: Describe the language policy of India.

i. The second test for Indian federalism was the language policy.
ii. Our Constitution did not give the status of national language to any one language.
iii. Hindi was identified as the official language.
iv. But Hindi was the mother tongue of only about 40 per cent of Indians. Therefore, there were many
safeguards to protect other languages.
v. Besides Hindi, there are 21 other languages recognised as Scheduled Languages by the constitution
vi. A candidate in an examination conducted for the Central Government positions may opt to take the
examination in any one of these languages.
vii. States too have their own official languages. Much of the government work takes place in the
official language of the concerned state.

Question 7: Describe the steps taken to strengthen the local self-government by the constitutional
amendments, 1992?
Amendment in Constitution, 1992, has strengthened decentralization in the local government-
i. It is constituently mandatory to hold regular and free electrons to local bodies.
ii. Reservation of seats in local parties, scheduled classes, Scheduled tribes and other backward classes.
iii. 1/3 of the seats were reserved for women.
iv. Independent State Election Commission set up to conduct municipal and panchayat election.
v. State governments are supposed to transfer some power and resources to local bodies. This
distribution varies from state to state.

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

Question 1: What is federalism?
A system of government in which the power is divided between the central authority and its various
constituent units.
Question 2: Point out one feature in the practice of federalism in India that is similar to and one feature
that is different from that of Belgium.
Similarity-
Both countries practise 'holding together' federation model where the power is divided between the
constituent States and the national government.
 Difference-
In India, the National government holds more power as compared to the constituent States while in
Belgium the state governments are not subordinate to the Central Government.

Question 3: What is the main difference between a federal form of government and a unitary one?
Explain with an example.
Unitary Government Federal Government
One central system of governance holds all power. Power is shared between central and shared
governments.
State governments do not have the authority to pass The central government holds the power to pass
separate laws. laws for all states.
Example - China, UK Example - India, Switzerland, Canada

Question 4: State any two differences between the local government before and after the constitutional
amendment in 1992.
The constitutional amendment of 1992 paved the way for further decentralisation in India by giving more
power to the third tier of government.

The two differences that occurred were:

i. Elections were not held regularly but after the amendment, State Election Commission was created to
hold the elections regularly.
ii. Marginalised communities had no provision for power sharing but after the amendment women,
Scheduled Castes, Scheduled tribes and other backward classes were given reservations.

Question 5: Describe the structure of local government.

i. The Local Government has a three tier structure.
ii. At the village level, it is the Gram Panchayat which consists of members called Panch and are headed by the
Sarpanch. Its members are directly elected by the people of the Gram Sabha.
iii. Gram Panchayat is the decision-making body and it works under the supervision of Gram Sabha which meets at
least twice a year.
iv. A group of Gram Panchayats forms the Panchayat Samiti at the block level. They are elected by the members of
Gram Panchayat.
v. At the district level we have a Zilla Parishad which is formed by all the Panchayat Samiti in a district. The
chairperson of the Zilla Parishad is the political head of this body.

COMPETENCY BASED QUESTIONS

Question 1: Critically analyze the center-state relations prior to 1990 and after.
(i) Prior to 1990, except for once, the Congress ruled at the centre for about 40 years. These were the years when
the single party made the government.

(ii) The government at the centre ruled the states with biased views. It supported those states which had a
government formed by the same party. The government dismissed the state governments formed by other parties.

(iii) The rise of regional politics in many states has changed the Centre-State relations significantly after 1990. This
was also the beginning of the era of coalition governments at the centre.

(iv) Since, no single party got a clear majority in the Lok Sabha, major national parties had to enter into an alliance
with many small regional parties.

(v) It became difficult for the central government to dismiss state governments in an arbitrary manner.
Question 2: Why does Judiciary play an important role on Indian federation substantiate?
(i) The judiciary is an important independent organ of the state in india.it has an important role to play in the existing
indian federal system.

(ii) It plays a crucial role in the implementation of constitutional provisions and procedures.

(iii) Judiciary directs both the union and state laws which are appropriate to the cases coming up for judgment.

(iv) The supreme court of India has the original power to settle dispute between the union and states.

(v) Judiciary with the supreme court at the apex is the sole interpreter of Indian federalism.

Hence, judiciary is considered as the guardian of the Indian federalism.

Question 3: What is Gram Sabha? Describe any four functions of a Gram Sabha.
Gram Sabha includes all the adult citizen voters of the village. It is empowered to support or topple down the Gram
Panchayat body.

The functions of Gram Sabha are

1. It elects the members of the Gram Panchayat.
2. It approves the annual budget of the Panchayat.
3. The Gram Sabha can remove the Pradhan and Panchas of the Panchayat by passing a resolution by two-third
majority.
4. It supervises the work of the Gram Panchayat.