FEDERALISM

What is federalism?
1. What changes were made in power sharing arrangement in Belgium and Sri Lanka?
Ans.
Belgium Sri Lanka
Regional governments existed in Belgium even earlier. Sri Lanka continues to be a unitary system where the
They had their roles and powers. national government has all the powers.
But, all these powers were given to these governments
and could be withdrawn by the Central Government. Tamil leaders wanted Sri Lanka to become a federal
The change that took place in 1993 was that the system.
regional governments were given constitutional powers
that were no longer dependent on the central
government.
Thus, Belgium shifted from a unitary to a federal form
of government.

2. What is federalism?
⚫ Ans. Federalism is a system of government in which the power is divided between a central
authority and various constituent units of the country.
⚫ Usually, a federation has two levels of government.
⚫ One is the government for the entire country that is usually responsible for a few subjects of
common national interest.
⚫ The others are governments at the level of provinces or states that look after much of the day-
to-day administering of their state.
⚫ Both these levels of governments enjoy their power independent of the other.

3.Distinguish between unitary form of government and federal form of government.

OR
How federations are contrasted with unitary governments.
Unitary Form of Government Federal Form of Government
⚫ Under the unitary system, either there is only ⚫ In a federal system, the central government
one level of government or the sub-units are cannot order the state government to do
the subordinates to the central government. something.
⚫ The central government can pass on orders to ⚫ State government has powers of its own for
the provincial or the local government. which it is not answerable to the central
⚫ Example: Sri Lanka government.
⚫ Example: India

4. . Explain the key features of federalism.

Ans. 1. There are two or more levels (or tiers) of government.
2. Different tiers of government govern the same citizens, but each tier has its own jurisdiction in specific
matters of legislation, taxation and administration.
3. The jurisdictions of the respective levels or tiers of government are specified in the constitution. So the
existence and authority of each tier of government is constitutionally guaranteed.
4. The fundamental provisions of the constitution cannot be unilaterally changed by one level of
government. Such changes require the consent of both the levels of government.
5. Courts have the power to interpret the constitution 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 respective powers.
6. Sources of revenue for each level of government are clearly specified to ensure its functional
autonomy.
7. The federal system has dual objectives: to safeguard and promote unity of the country, while at
the same time accommodate regional diversity. Government at different levels should agree to some
rules of power-sharing. They should also trust that each would abide by its part of the agreement. An
ideal federal system has both aspects: mutual trust and agreement to live together.
5. . Distinguish between coming together and holding together federations.
Ans.
Coming together federation Holding together federation
i) Of the two kinds of routes through which federations i) The second route is where a large country decides to
are formed, the first route involves independent states divide its power between the constituent States and the
coming together on their own to form a bigger unit, so national government.
that by pooling sovereignty and retaining identity they ii) India, Spain and Belgium are examples of this kind
can increase their security. of ‘holding together’ federations.
ii) This type of ‘coming together’ federations include the iii) In this second category, the central government
USA, Switzerland and Australia. tends to be more powerful vis-a-vis the States.
iii) In this category of federations, all the constituent iv) Very often different constituent units of the
States usually have equal power and are strong vis-a- federation have unequal powers.
vis the federal government. v) Some units are granted special powers.

What makes India a federal country?

6. . How are legislative powers divided between Union Government and State Governments? Explain
with examples.
Ans. The Constitution clearly provided a threefold distribution of legislative powers between the Union
Government and the State Governments. Thus, it contains three lists:
Union List 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.
The Union Government alone can make laws relating to the subjects mentioned in the Union List.
State 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.
Concurrent List includes subjects of common interest to both the Union Government as well as the
State Governments such as education, forest, trade unions, marriage, adoption and succession.
Both Union and State Governments can make laws on the subjects in this list.
If their laws conflict with each other, the law made by the Union Government will prevail.
Residuary Subjects: Subjects like computer software that came up after the constitution was made do
not fall in any of the three lists and are called ‘residuary’ subjects. Union Government has the power to
legislate on these subjects.

7. What makes India a federal country?

Or
Examine the factors that have strengthened Indian federalism.
i) Ans. The constitution originally provided for a two-tier system of government, the Union Government or
the Central Government, representing the Union of India and the State Governments.
Later, a third tier of federalism was added in the form of Panchayats and Municipalities.
ii) The Constitution clearly provided a three-fold distribution of legislative powers between the Union
Government and the State Governments. Thus, it contains three lists - Union List, State List, Concurrent
List and the residuary subjects.
iii) The Parliament cannot on its own change the power sharing agreement.
iv) The judiciary plays an important role in overseeing the implementation of constitutional provisions
and procedures.
v) The Union and State governments have the power to raise resources by levying taxes in order to
carry on the government and the responsibilities assigned to each of them.
vi) India being a holding together federation does not give equal power to all its constituent units. Some
States enjoy special status.
vii) Some units of the Indian Union called the Union Territories enjoy very little power. The central
government has special powers to run these areas.

8. “Most federations that are formed by ‘holding together’ do not give equal power to its constituent
units”. Explain the statement with examples.
⚫ Ans.Most federations that are formed by ‘holding together’ do not give equal power to its
constituent units. Thus, all States in the Indian Union do not have identical powers.
 ⚫ Some States enjoy a special status. States 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 services.
Indians who are not permanent residents of this State cannot buy land or house here.
⚫ Similar special provisions exist for some other States of India as well.
⚫ There are some units of the Indian Union which enjoy very little power.
These are areas which are too small to become an independent State but which could not be
merged with any of the existing States.
These areas, like Chandigarh, or Lakshadweep or the capital city of Delhi, are called Union
Territories.
These territories do not have the powers of a State.
The Central Government has special powers in running these areas.

9. How are amendments made to the Power sharing arrangements in the constitution?
• It is not easy to make changes to this power sharing arrangement.
• The Parliament cannot on its own change this arrangement.
• Any change to it has to be first passed by both the Houses of Parliament with at least two-
thirds majority.
• Then it has to be ratified by the legislatures of at least half of the total States.

10. What is the significance of Judiciary in federalism?

• The judiciary plays an important role in overseeing the implementation of constitutional

provisions and procedures.
• Courts have the power to interpret the constitution 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 respective powers.
• In case of any dispute about the division of powers, the High Courts and the Supreme Court
make a decision.

How is federalism practised?

11. How is federalism practiced in India?

⚫ Ans. The real success of federalism can be attributed to the nature of democratic politics in our
country.
⚫ The major ways by which federalism has been successful are:
i) Linguistic States
⚫ In 1947, the boundaries of several old States of India were changed to create new States to
ensure that people who spoke the same language lived in the same State.
⚫ Some States were created to recognise the differences based on culture, ethnicity or
geography.
⚫ The experience has shown that the formation of linguistic States has actually made the country,
more united and has also made administration easier.
ii) Language Policy
⚫ Hindi was identified as the official language.
⚫ As Hindi is the mother tongue of only about 40 percent of Indians, 21 other languages are
recognised as Scheduled Languages by the Constitution.
⚫ States too have their own official languages.
⚫ Much of the government work takes place in the official language of the concerned State.
⚫ The Central Government agreed to continue the use of English along with Hindi for official
purposes.
iii) Centre-State Relations
⚫ After 1990, rise of regional political parties in many States and formation of coalition government
at the centre strengthened federalism.
⚫ This led to a new culture of power sharing and respect for the autonomy of State Governments.
⚫ A major judgement of the Supreme Court made it difficult to dismiss state governments in an
arbitrary manner.
12. What challenges did Centre-State relations in India face before the 1990s? Why is power sharing
between Centre and State more effective today? Explain.

⚫ Ans. For a long time, the same party ruled both at the Centre and in most of the States
and the State governments did not exercise their rights as autonomous federal units.
⚫ As and when the ruling party at the State level was different, the parties that ruled at
the Centre tried to undermine the power of the States and would often misuse the Constitution
to dismiss the State Governments that were controlled by rival parties.
⚫ This undermined the spirit of federalism.
⚫ After 1990, the period saw the rise of regional political parties in many States of the
country.
⚫ This was also the beginning of the era of Coalition Governments at the Centre.
⚫ This led to a new culture of power sharing and respect for the autonomy of State
Governments.
⚫ This was supported by a major judgement of the Supreme Court that made it difficult for
the Central Government to dismiss state governments in an arbitrary manner.
⚫ Thus, federal power sharing is more effective today than it was in the early years after
after the Constitution came into force.

Linguistic diversity of India

13. Write a note on Scheduled Languages and non-Scheduled Languages.

OR “In terms of languages, India is perhaps the most diverse country in the world”. Substantiate the
statement with relevant facts.

⚫ Ans. The census of India held in 2001 recorded more than 1500 distinct languages
which people mentioned as their mother tongues.
⚫ These languages were grouped together under some major languages.
⚫ For example languages like Bhojpuri, Magadhi, Bundelkhandi, Chhattisgarhi, Rajastani,
Bhili and many others were grouped together under ‘Hindi’.
⚫ Even after this grouping, the Census found 114 major languages.
⚫ Of these 22 languages are now included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian
Constitution and are therefore called ‘Scheduled Languages’.
⚫ Others are called ‘non-Scheduled Languages’.
⚫ In terms of languages, India is perhaps the most diverse country in the world.

Decentralisation in India

14. What is the rationale for decentralisation of power in India?

Or
Explain the importance of local self-government for establishing grass root democracy.
⚫ Ans. A vast country like India cannot be run only through two-tiers of government.
⚫ States in India are as large as independent countries of Europe in terms of population.
⚫ Many of these States are internally very diverse.
⚫ There is thus a need for power sharing within these States.
⚫ Federal power sharing in India needs another tier of government,below that of the State
governments.
⚫ This is the rationale for decentralisation of power.
⚫ Thus, resulted in a third-tier of government called local government.

15. Why is decentralisation of powers considered good for democracy? Explain.

OR
What is the basic idea behind decentralisation?

⚫ Ans. When power is taken away from Central and State governments and given to local
government, it is called decentralisation.
⚫ The basic idea behind decentralisation is that there are large number of problems and issues
which are best settled at the local level.
⚫ People have better knowledge of problems in their localities.
 ⚫ They also have better ideas on where to spend money and how to manage things more
efficiently.
⚫ Besides, 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.
⚫ Local government is the best way to realise one important principle of democracy, namely
local self-government.

16. Why was decentralisation less effective in the beginning?

⚫ Ans. Panchayats in villages and municipalities in urban areas set up in all the States were
directly under the control of state governments.
⚫ Elections to these local governments were not held regularly.
⚫ Local governments did not have any powers or resources of their own.
⚫ Thus, there was very little decentralisation in effective terms.

17. Explain five changes towards decentralisation brought in the Constitution after the amendments
made in 1992.

⚫ Ans. A major step towards decentralisation was taken in 1992.

⚫ The Constitution was amended to make the third-tier of democracy more powerful and
effective.
i) Now it is constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to local government bodies.
ii) Seats are reserved in the elected bodies and the executive heads of these institutions for the
Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes.
iii) At least one-third of all positions are reserved for women.
iv) An independent institution called the State Election Commission has been created in each State to
conduct panchayat and municipal elections.
v) The State governments are required to share some powers and revenue with local government
bodies.
The nature of sharing varies from State to State.

18. Explain the structure of Rural Local Government in India.

⚫ Ans. Rural Local Government is popularly known by the name panchayati raj.
⚫ Each village, or group of villages in some States, has a gram panchayat.
⚫ This is a council consisting of several ward members, often called panch, and a president or
sarpanch.
⚫ The panchayat works under the overall supervision of the gram sabha.
⚫ All the voters in the village are its members.
⚫ The local government structure goes right up to the district level.
⚫ A few gram panchayats are grouped together to form what is usually called a panchayat
samiti or block mandal.
⚫ The members of this representative body are elected by all the panchayat members in that
area.
⚫ All the panchayat samitis or mandals in a district together constitute zilla (district) parishad.
⚫ Zilla parishad chairperson is the political head of the zilla parishad.
Panchayati Raj
Level Elected Election
Body
Village Gram Ward members often called as panch and a president or sarpanch are directly
Level Panchayat elected by all the adult population living in that ward or village.
Block Panchayat The members of this representative body are elected by all the panchayat
Level Samiti or members in that area.
Block
Mandal
District Zilla Most members of Zilla Parishad are elected. Members of the Lok Sabha and
Level Parishad MLAs of that district and some other officials of other district level bodies are
also its members. Zilla Parishad chairperson is the political head of the Zilla
Parishad.

19. Explain the role of gram sabha in the working of gram panchayat.
 ⚫ Ans. The panchayat works under the overall supervision of the gram sabaha.
⚫ All the voters in the village are its members.
⚫ It has to meet at least twice or thrice a year to approve the annual budget of the gram
panchayat and to review the performance of the gram panchayat.

20. Explain the structure of Urban Local Government in India.

⚫ Ans. Local government bodies exist for urban areas as well.

⚫ Municipalities are set up in towns.
⚫ Big cities are constituted into municipal corporations.
⚫ Both municipalities and municipal corporations are controlled by elected bodies consisting of
people’s representatives.
⚫ Municipal chairperson is the political head of the municipality.
⚫ In a municipal corporation such an officer is called the mayor.

21. What are the achievements and problems of local governments in India?

Ans. Achievements:
⚫ The new system of local government is the largest experiment in democracy conducted
anywhere in the world.
⚫ There are now about 36 lakh elected representatives in the panchayats and municipalities
etc., all over the country.
⚫ This number is bigger than the population of many countries in the world.
⚫ Constitutional status for local government has helped to deepen democracy in our country.
⚫ It has also increased women’s representation and voice in our democracy.
Problems:
⚫ While elections are held regularly and enthusiastically, gram sabhas are not held regularly.
⚫ Most state governments have not transferred significant powers to the local governments.
⚫ Nor have they given adequate resources.
⚫ We are thus still a long way from realising the ideal of self-government.