Federalism (Class 10): Notes और MCQ Practice

आसान भाषा में

Federalism एक ऐसा governance system है जहाँ power को एक Central Authority और विभिन्न Constituent Units (जैसे States) के बीच बाँटा जाता है। इसमें दोनों levels अपने-अपने कार्यक्षेत्र (Jurisdiction) में स्वतंत्र होते हैं। भारत में Central, State और Local Government का 'Three-tier system' लागू है।

Important Points & Definitions

1. Two Routes to Federation:

• Coming Together: स्वतंत्र देश साथ आकर बड़ी unit बनाते हैं। (States have equal power)
• Holding Together: एक बड़ा देश अपनी power को Central और States में बाँटता है। (Centre usually more powerful)

1. Three Legislative Lists:

• Union List (National importance): Defence, Foreign Affairs, Banking. (Lawmaker: Centre)
• State List (Day-to-day/Local): Police, Trade, Agriculture, Irrigation. (Lawmaker: State)
• Concurrent List (Common interest): Education, Forest, Trade Unions. (Centre + State दोनों, conflict में Union Law मान्य)
• Residuary Subjects: IT, Computer Software आदि जो आज़ादी के बाद आए। (Lawmaker: Union only)

1. Decentralisation (1992 Amendment):

• Local bodies के नियमित elections अनिवार्य।
• Women के लिए कम से कम 1/3 (33%) seats reserved।
• State Election Commission का गठन और states द्वारा funds/power शेयरिंग।

💡 Memory Tricks

• Trick 1 (Coming Together): याद रखें "USA" = USA, Switzerland, Australia.
• Trick 2 (Holding Together): याद रखें "SIB" = Spain, India, Belgium.

⚠️ Common Board Exam Mistakes

1. Hindi को 'National Language' लिखना: भारत की कोई 'National Language' घोषित नहीं है; Hindi हमारी 'Official Language' है। (संविधान में 22 Scheduled Languages हैं)।
2. Concurrent List के conflict में State Law चुनना: याद रखें, अगर Concurrent List के कानून पर Centre और State में टकराव हो, तो हमेशा Union Government का कानून ही लागू होता है।

Federalism - Class 10 Political Science

1. Chapter in Short

In the previous chapter on Power Sharing, we saw that sharing power between different levels of government is a key form of democracy. This chapter focuses on Federalism—a system where government power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units (like states or provinces).

In this chapter, you will learn:

• What federalism is and how it differs from a unitary government.
• The key features that make a country federal.
• The two ways federations are formed ("Coming Together" and "Holding Together").
• How federalism works in India through the three-fold distribution of legislative powers (Union, State, and Concurrent Lists).
• How federalism is practiced through linguistic states, language policy, and Centre-State relations.
• Decentralisation, especially the historic local government reforms introduced in 1992.

2. Key Concepts Explained Simply

A. What is Federalism vs. Unitary System?

• Unitary System: Either there is only one level of government, or the sub-units are completely subordinate to the central government. The central government can pass orders to local governments (e.g., the United Kingdom, Sri Lanka).
• Federal System: Power is shared between at least two levels: a central government for the entire country and state governments for regional administration. Both enjoy independent powers granted by the constitution (e.g., India, USA).

Everyday Example: Think of a unitary system like a single store manager who makes every single decision down to what music plays. A federal system is like a school where the Principal handles overall policies (safety, boards, exams), but class teachers have full freedom to manage their own classrooms.

B. Two Routes of Forming Federations

1. Coming Together Federation: Independent states decide on their own to pool their sovereignty and form a bigger nation to increase their security while keeping their identity. States usually have equal power and are as strong as the federal government.

• Examples: USA, Switzerland, Australia.
• Analogy: Several independent friends pooling money together to rent a big flat as equal flatmates.

1. Holding Together Federation: A large country decides to divide its power between the national government and constituent states. The central government tends to be more powerful than the states, and different states may have unequal powers.

• Examples: India, Spain, Belgium.
• Analogy: A large family where the parents share responsibilities with their grown-up children to keep the family united and managed efficiently.

C. What Makes India Federal? (The Three Lists)

The Constitution clearly divides law-making powers between the Union (Centre) and State governments into three lists:

1. Union List: Matters of national importance needing a uniform policy across India. Only the Central Government can make laws.

• Subjects: Defence, Foreign Affairs, Banking, Communications, Currency.

1. State List: Matters of day-to-day regional and local importance. Only State Governments can make laws.

• Subjects: Police, Trade, Commerce, Agriculture, Irrigation.

1. Concurrent List: Matters of common interest to both Centre and States. Both can make laws. If there is a conflict, the Central law prevails.

• Subjects: Education, Forests, Trade Unions, Marriage, Adoption, Succession.

1. Residuary Subjects: Topics that did not exist when the Constitution was made (e.g., Computer Software, Information Technology). The Union Government has the power to make laws on them.

D. How is Federalism Practised in India?

Constitutional rules are necessary, but federalism succeeded in India because of the democratic spirit:

1. Linguistic States: In 1947 and after, state boundaries were reshaped so people speaking the same language lived in the same state (e.g., Maharashtra, Punjab). This made the country more united, not divided.
2. Language Policy: India did not declare any single language as the "national language". Hindi is an official language, but English continues for official purposes alongside 21 other recognized languages (total 22 Scheduled Languages).
3. Centre-State Relations: Before 1990, the central party often dismissed state governments ruled by rival parties using constitutional provisions. After 1990, the rise of regional parties led to the era of Coalition Governments, creating a culture of mutual respect and state autonomy.

E. Decentralisation in India (The Third Tier)

Decentralisation means taking power away from Central and State governments and giving it to local governments (Panchayats in villages and Municipalities in towns).

• Why? Local issues (like local water supply or garbage cleanup) are best settled by local people who have direct knowledge.
• Major Step of 1992 (73rd and 74th Amendments):
• Made regular elections to local bodies constitutionally mandatory.
• Reserved seats for SC, ST, and Other Backward Classes (OBC).
• Reserved at least 1/3 (33%) of all positions for women.
• Created an independent State Election Commission in each state to conduct local elections.
• Required State governments to share revenues and powers with local bodies.

3. Important Definitions, Facts, and Dates

• Federalism: A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units.
• Jurisdiction: The legal territory or area over which someone has official authority (can be defined by geographical boundaries or types of subjects).
• Coalition Government: A government formed by an alliance of two or more political parties when no single party wins a clear majority.
• Decentralisation: Devolution of decision-making power from central and regional levels to local government bodies.
• Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution: Lists the 22 Scheduled Languages of India.
• 1956: State Reorganisation Commission implemented, leading to the creation of linguistic states.
• 1992: 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts passed to empower rural and urban local governments.
• Gram Panchayat: The basic decision-making body for a village or group of villages, headed by a Sarpanch.
• Gram Sabha: The body of all adult voters in a village; it reviews the performance of the Gram Panchayat.
• Mayor: The political head of a Municipal Corporation in large cities.

4. Solved Board-Style Questions with Answers

Question 1 (5 Marks)

State any five key features of federalism.

Answer:

1. Two or more tiers: There are two or more levels (tiers) of government (e.g., Central, State, and Local).
2. Same citizens, distinct jurisdiction: Different tiers govern the same citizens, but each tier has its own jurisdiction in matters of legislation, taxation, and administration.
3. Constitutional guarantee: The existence and authority of each tier of government is constitutionally guaranteed.
4. Rigid constitution: Fundamental provisions of the constitution cannot be changed unilaterally by one level of government; consent of both levels is required.
5. Independent judiciary: Courts act as an umpire if disputes arise between different levels of government in the exercise of their powers. The Supreme Court has the ultimate authority.

Question 2 (3 Marks)

Differentiate between 'Coming Together' and 'Holding Together' federations with examples.

Answer:

• Coming Together Federations:
• Independent states come together on their own to form a bigger unit.
• States usually have equal powers among themselves and vis-à-vis the central government.
• Examples: USA, Switzerland, Australia.
• Holding Together Federations:
• A large country decides to divide its power between the national government and regional states.
• The central government is typically more powerful than the states; some states may have special powers.
• Examples: India, Spain, Belgium.

Question 3 (5 Marks)

What major constitutional steps were taken in 1992 towards decentralisation in India?

Answer:

The Constitution was amended in 1992 (73rd and 74th Amendments) to make the third tier of democracy more powerful and effective through the following steps:

1. Mandatory Elections: It was made constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to local government bodies.
2. Reservation for Marginalised Groups: Seats were reserved in the elected bodies and executive heads for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC).
3. Reservation for Women: At least one-third (33%) of all positions were reserved for women.
4. State Election Commission: An independent State Election Commission was created in each state to conduct panchayat and municipal elections.
5. Sharing of Powers and Revenue: State governments were required to share some powers and revenue with local government bodies.

Question 4 (3 Marks)

How is the language policy of India a major factor in maintaining the unity of the country?

Answer:

1. No National Language: The Indian Constitution did not give the status of national language to any single language. Hindi was identified as the official language, but it is the mother tongue of only about 44% of Indians.
2. Protection of Other Languages: Besides Hindi, 21 other languages are recognized as Scheduled Languages in the Eighth Schedule. Candidates appearing for central examinations can opt to write in any of these languages.
3. Flexibility with English: The promotion of Hindi was balanced by allowing the continued use of English for official purposes, preventing linguistic protests (like those in Tamil Nadu) and avoiding civil strife of the kind seen in Sri Lanka.

5. Common Mistakes & Quick Revision Points

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

• Mistake 1: Writing that Hindi is the "National Language" of India.

Correction: Hindi is an official language, not the national language. The Indian Constitution has not declared any national language.

• Mistake 2: Confusing Concurrent List with Residuary Powers.

Correction: The Concurrent list contains matters written in the Constitution where both Centre and States can make laws (e.g., Education). Residuary subjects are new topics that arose after the Constitution was adopted (e.g., Cyber laws/IT), and only the Union can legislate on them.

• Mistake 3: Thinking Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat are the exact same body.

Correction: Gram Sabha consists of all adult voters of the village. The Gram Panchayat is the smaller elected executive council chosen by the Gram Sabha.

Quick Revision Points:

• 2 or more tiers = Core requirement of federalism.
• Union List: Defence, Foreign Affairs (Centre only).
• State List: Police, Agriculture (State only).
• Concurrent List: Education, Forest (Both; Centre wins in conflict).
• Residuary: IT, Software (Union only).
• 1992 Amendments: 1/3 women reservation + State Election Commission + Mandatory regular local elections.
• Eighth Schedule: 22 total Scheduled Languages (Hindi + 21 others).