DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL

Secunderabad
NACHARAM | MAHENDRA HILLS | NADERGUL

SOCIAL SCIENCE CH 2. FEDERALISM CLASS: X

Answer the following questions:

Q1. State any two differences between the local government before and after the
Constitutional amendment in 1992.(2m)
Ans. The two differences between local government before and after constitutional
amendment are as follows:
i) Before 1992, elections to the local bodies were not held regularly. Since 1992, it is
constitutionally mandated to hold regular elections to local government bodies
ii) Before 1992, local bodies did not have any powers or resources of their own. After
1992, the state governments were required to share some powers and revenue with local
government bodies.
Q2. What makes India a Federal Country?(3m)
Ans. i) India is a nation with many languages, religions and regions. It emerged as an
independent nation after a long and painful partition
ii)Several princely states became a part of the country soon after independence. India was
declared as a Union of States, by the Constitution.
iii) The Indian Union is based on the principles of federalism. The Constitution earlier
provided a two-tier system of government, the Union Government (Central Government),
representing the Union of India and the State governments. Later, Panchayats and
Municipalities were added as a third tier of federalism
iv) All these different forms of government enjoy separate jurisdiction.
v) Hence these make India a federal country.
Q3. How have the centre-state relations been restructured to strengthen federalism?(5m)
Ans. Restructuring the centre state relation is a way in which federalism has been
strengthened in practice.
i) The way by which constitutional arrangements share power and work in reality depends to
a large extent on how ruling parties and their leaders follow this arrangement.
For a long time, In India, the same party ruled both at the central and in most of the states.
ii) Here states do not exercise their autonomous power.
iii) when the ruling party at the centre and state are different, the centre tried to dominate the
state.
iv)After 1990, the era of coalition government began in India. This resulted in a new culture
of power sharing between the state and the central government
v) The supreme court authorized the autonomy of the state government and made it difficult
for the central government to dismiss the state government in an arbitrary manner
Thus federal power sharing became more effective than it was before.
Q4. Which features of panchayat raj do you like the most and why?(2m)
Ans. Write on your own
Q5. Distinguish between Unitary government and federal government.(3m)
Ans. The following are the differences between unitary and federal government

Unitary Government Federal government

1. There is only one level of 1. A federation has two-levels of

government or the sub-units are government. One is the government
subordinate to the centre. for the entire country. The others are
2. The central government can pass governments at the state level.
orders to the provincial or the local 2. Both central and state governments
government. enjoy their power independent of the
3. Example: UK. other and are separately answerable
to the people.
3. Example: India

Q6. Write a brief note on village councils.(2m)

Ans. Village Councils looked after the affairs of the village, had police and judicial powers
and were the lines of contact with higher authorities on matters affecting the villages. Custom
and religion elevated them to a sacred position of authority.
These Councils were the pivot of administration, the centre of social life, and, above all, a
focus of social solidarity.
Q7. Write a brief note on the language policy adopted in India.(3m)
Ans. i)The ‘Language policy’ was the second test for the Indian federation. No language was
given the status of national language by our Constitution.
ii) Hindi was identified as the official language. But only about 40 percent of Indians have
Hindi as their mother tongue. Therefore, 21 other languages besides Hindi, are recognised as
Scheduled Languages by the Constitution.
iii) A candidate in an examination conducted for the Central Government positions may opt
to take the examination in any of these languages.
iv) States too have their own official languages. Much of the government work takes place in
the official language of the concerned State.
v) The flexibility shown by Indian political leaders helped our country avoid any conflict
based on languages
Q8. What is federalism? Explain its key features.(5m)
 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
Its key features are as follows:
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
financial autonomy
7. The federal system thus has dual objectives: to safeguard and promote unity of the
country, while at the same time accommodate regional diversity. Therefore, two aspects
are crucial for the institutions and practice of federalism. Governments 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.
Q9. What is the role of the judiciary in Indian federalism?(2m)
Ans.
● The Judiciary plays an important role in a federal country.
● The Judiciary has the power to interpret the constitution regarding the division of power,
and the Supreme Court and high courts have the power to solve the dispute between the
central and the state government.
● Courts also see that the Union government does not misuse its power.
● The Union and the state government have the power to raise their financial resources.

Q10. India comes under which type of federation and why?(5m)

Ans. i) India comes under ‘ a holding together’ type federation. In this type of federation, a large
country divides its power between the constituent states and the National government.

ii) There is one government for the entire country and the others are governments at the state
level. Both central and state governments enjoy their power independent of the other.

iii) The Central government tends to be more powerful vis-a-vis the states. Often different
constituent units of the federation have unequal powers. For example; special powers have been
granted to Jammu and Kashmir.
Note: Write Q.no 1,2,5,6,10