Federalism

2016

Very Short Answer Type Questions [1 Mark]

Question 1.
How many seats are reserved for women in the local bodies in India?
Answer:
At least one-third of the seats are reserved for women in the local bodies in India.

Question 2.
What other factors besides politics keep the federations united?
Answer:
Besides politics other factors that keep federations united are:

Power sharing arrangements between the central and state governments

Independent role of judiciary
Language ethnicity
Response to conflicting claims and
Active participation of the people.

Short Answer Type Question [3 Marks]

Question 3.
Explain the vertical division of power giving example from India.
Answer:
The power shared among the different levels of the government is known as the vertical
distribution of power. It involves higher and lower levels of government. These levels are the
Union government, the State government and the Local government. In India, the Union

government is at the highest level. The government at the provincial or regional level is the
State government. The Indian Constitution has further laid down the provision of distribution
of power. This division of power is further extended to the levels of the government lower
than the state governments. They are also called Municipal Corporations and the
Municipalities in urban areas and Panchayati Raj in rural areas.
Each level of the government exercises its power. There is no specification of the system of
checks and balances. Each level has its own powers and areas of jurisdiction and no level
can interfere in each other’s functioning. Such an arrangement ensures deepening of
democracy.
 Long Answer Type Question [5 Marks]

Question 4.
Explain democratic policies adopted by Government of India which made it a successful
federation.
Answer:
The following democratic policies have helped India to be a successful federation.

The powers of the central and state governments have been clearly seperated under
the Union, State and Concurrent Lists. It removes the possibility of any type of
interference in the functioning of the central and state governments.
A three-tier system of governance has been approved under the Union, State and
Local governments. They govern the people at their respective levels.
Some states like Jammu and Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh have been given
special status so as to maintain their autonomy.
The fundamental structure of the Indian Constitution cannot be unilateraly changed by
the Parliament. Any amendment in the Constitution needs the approval of both the
houses of the Parliament and at least half of the total states.
The sources of income of different levels of the government has been clearly stated in
the Constitution to avoid any conflict.

2015

Very Short Answer Type Question [1 Mark]

Question 5.
What is the official post for the chairperson of a municipal corporation?
Answer:
Mayor is the official post for the chairperson of a municipal corporation.

Short Answer Type Question [3 Marks]

Question 6.
Compare the federations of coming together type and holding together type?
Answer:
The following are the differences between coming together type and holding together
federations.
 Long Answer Type Question [5 Marks]

Question 7.
How are the legislative powers divided between the Union government and the State
Governments?
Answer:
The legislative powers are divided between the Union Government and the State
Governments by the Constitution of India. The constitution is supreme in the country and the
legislative powers are divided into various areas of government jurisdiction into three lists—
Union List, State List, Concurrent List.

The Union List: Union List includes subjects like defence, foreign affairs, banking,
currency and communications. The Union Government alone can make laws relating to
these subjects.
The State List: State list contains subjects like police, trade, commerce, agriculture
and irrigation, which come under the jurisdiction of the State Governments. Only the
State Legislatures can make laws on these subjects.
The Concurrent list: The Concurrent list contains items like education, forest, trade
unions, marriage, adoption and succession, which are of common interest to both the
Union government and the State Governments. Both can make laws on these subjects.
However, in case of any conflict, the law made by the Union Government will prevail.

2014

Long Answer Type Question [5 Marks]

Question 8.
Which five provisions of Indian Constitution make India a full-fledged federation?
Answer:
A federation is a country in which the powers are divided between the union and its
constituents. India is an example of holding together federation, where the country decides
to create constituent units, thereby dividing the powers and duties between the centre and
the states.
The following are the five provisions that make India a full-fledged federation.

Two or more levels of government: We have a federal system whereby the

 constitution has more than two tiers of the government, viz. the Union
Government, State Governments and Local Government. This implies that there are
more than two levels of government administration among which powers are divided
and duties are given.
Three Lists: The powers are divided between the Centre and the States by three
Lists: Union list, State List and Concurrent list.
Union List deals with the issues relating to the Centre, State List deals with the issues
relating to the States and Concurrent List deals with the matters of both the Centre and
the States.
Rigid Constitution: The Government of India is governed by the Constitution of India
and it is considered the Supreme Power in the Country. It is not an easy task to amend
the constitution. For a constitutional provision to be amended, it requires ratification by
half of the State Legislatures, failing which the Constitution cannot be amended.
Bicameral Legislature: India has a bicameral legislature which means that the
Parliament consists of two houses, viz, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. One
represents the country and the other represents the interest of the constituent states.
Financial Autonomy: The revenue sources of both the Centre and States have been
clearly defined, that ensures financial autonomy to both the Centre and the States. In
layman’s language, the Centre and the State have different sources of income, which
means they are independent of each other when it comes to revenue.
Independent Judiciary: Independent judiciary is the essence of federal government.
Here, courts have the power to interpret the constitution and the powers of the different
levels of government. In India, the highest court—the Supreme Court—acts as an
umpire if a dispute arises between the different levels of government in the exercise of
their respective powers.

2012

Short Answer Type Question [3 Marks]

Question 9.
Explain five changes towards decentralization brought in the Constitution after the
amendments made in 1992.
Answer:
The following steps were taken towards decentralization after 1992.

It was made constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to local government

bodies.
Seats were reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other
Backward communities (OBCs) in the elected bodies.
Women were given one-third representation.
An independent institution, called state election commission, was created to conduct
local body elections.
State governments were required to share this power and revenue with local bodies.

Long Answer Type Questions [5 Marks]

Question 10.
What is federalism? Distinguish between the federations of come together type and hold
together type. Mention two countries each for both the types of federations.
Answer:
Federalism is a system of government in which the power is divided between a central
authority and various constituent units of the country. Both these levels of the government—
the central and the state—enjoy their power independent of the other.
The following are the differences between coming together type and holding together
federations.

Question 11.
How has federalism succeeded in India? What policies adopted by India have ensured this
success?
Answer:
A federation is a country in which the powers are divided between the union and its
constituents. India is an example of holding together federation, where the country decides
to create constituent units, thereby dividing the powers and duties between the centre and
the states.
The following are the five provisions that make India a full-fledged federation.

Two or more levels of government: We have a federal system whereby the

constitution has more than two tiers of the government, viz. the Union
Government, State Governments and Local Government. This implies that there are
more than two levels of government administration among which powers are divided
and duties are given.
Three Lists: The powers are divided between the Centre and the States by three
Lists: Union list, State List and Concurrent list.
Union List deals with the issues relating to the Centre, State List deals with the issues
relating to the States and Concurrent List deals with the matters of both the Centre and
the States.
Rigid Constitution: The Government of India is governed by the Constitution of India
and it is considered the Supreme Power in the Country. It is not an easy task to amend
the constitution. For a constitutional provision to be amended, it requires ratification by
half of the State Legislatures, failing which the Constitution cannot be amended.
Bicameral Legislature: India has a bicameral legislature which means that the
Parliament consists of two houses, viz, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. One
represents the country and the other represents the interest of the constituent states.
Financial Autonomy: The revenue sources of both the Centre and States have been
clearly defined, that ensures financial autonomy to both the Centre and the States. In
layman’s language, the Centre and the State have different sources of income, which
means they are independent of each other when it comes to revenue.
Independent Judiciary: Independent judiciary is the essence of federal government.
 Here, courts have the power to interpret the constitution and the powers of the different
levels of government. In India, the highest court—the Supreme Court—acts as an
umpire if a dispute arises between the different levels of government in the exercise of
their respective powers.

2011

Short Answer Type Question [3 Marks]

Question 12.
Distinguish between coming together and holding together type of federations.
Answer:
The following are the differences between coming together type and holding together
federations.

Long Answer Type Question [5 Marks]

Question 13.
The creation of linguistic states was the first and the major test of democratic politics in our
country. Justify the statement.
Answer:
The creation of linguistic states was the first and the major test of democratic politics
in our country.

After 1947, the boundaries of several old states of India were proposed to be changed
to ensure that people who spoke the same language lived in the same state. It was felt
that it would case administrative constraints also.
Some states like Nagaland were not created on the basis of language but because of
their distinct culture, ethnicity and geography.
When the demand for the formation of linguistic states rose, some leaders feared that it
would again lead to disintegration.
This idea was thus resisted for some time fearing any further tension or conflict within
the country.
But when the actual creation of states was done on the basis of language, it so proved
that the country was more united. This process did away with all fears and tension.
Thus, the framing of the language policy was the test for Indian federation. It inspired
the confidence in different language speaking people that no language will be imposed
on them. In a way Language policy has strengthened the unity and integrity of India.
 2010

Very Short Answer Type Questions [1 Mark]

Question 14.
Define the term federalism.
Answer:
Federalism is a system of government in which the power is divided between a central
authority and various constituent units of the country. Both these levels of the government
the central and the state—enjoy their powers independent of each other.

Question 15.
Name any two subjects which are included in the Union List.
Answer:
Foreign affairs and defence are included in the Union List.

Short Answer Type Questions [3 Marks]

Question 16.
Explain the threefold distribution of legislative powers between the Union Government and
the State Governments.
Answer:
Legislative powers are divided between the Union government and the State Governments
by the Constitution of India. The Constitution is the supreme power in the country and the
legislative powers are divided into various areas of government jurisdiction into three lists.

The Union List: The Union List is given in Seventh Schedule in the Constitution of
India on which Parliament has exclusive power to legislate. It contains areas like
defence, foreign affairs, currency and communications.
The State List: The State List is also in the Seventh Schedule of the constitution
containing subjects like social service, police and Health, which are under the
jurisdiction of the state government. Only state legislature can pass laws on these
subjects.
The Concurrent List: The Concurrent List contains items like criminal law, forests,
population control in which both parliament and state legislature can pass laws.
However, in case of any conflict arising between the laws made by the parliament and
the laws made by the state legislature, the laws made by the parliament will prevail.

Question 17.
Explain any four features of federalism.
Answer:
A federation is a country in which the powers are divided between the union and its
constituents. India is an example of holding together federation, where the country decides
to create constituent units, thereby dividing the powers and duties between the centre and
the states.
The following are the five provisions that make India a full-fledged federation.
 Two or more levels of government: We have a federal system whereby the
constitution has more than two tiers of the government, viz. the Union
Government, State Governments and Local Government. This implies that there are
more than two levels of government administration among which powers are divided
and duties are given.
Three Lists: The powers are divided between the Centre and the States by three
Lists: Union list, State List and Concurrent list.
Union List deals with the issues relating to the Centre, State List deals with the issues
relating to the States and Concurrent List deals with the matters of both the Centre and
the States.
Rigid Constitution: The Government of India is governed by the Constitution of India
and it is considered the Supreme Power in the Country. It is not an easy task to amend
the constitution. For a constitutional provision to be amended, it requires ratification by
half of the State Legislatures, failing which the Constitution cannot be amended.
Bicameral Legislature: India has a bicameral legislature which means that the
Parliament consists of two houses, viz, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. One
represents the country and the other represents the interest of the constituent states.
Financial Autonomy: The revenue sources of both the Centre and States have been
clearly defined, that ensures financial autonomy to both the Centre and the States. In
layman’s language, the Centre and the State have different sources of income, which
means they are independent of each other when it comes to revenue.
Independent Judiciary: Independent judiciary is the essence of federal government.
Here, courts have the power to interpret the constitution and the powers of the different
levels of government. In India, the highest court—the Supreme Court—acts as an
umpire if a dispute arises between the different levels of government in the exercise of
their respective powers,

2009

Short Answer Type Question [3 Marks]

Question 18.
Explain any four features of federalism.
Answer:
A federation is a country in which the powers are divided between the union and its
constituents. India is an example of holding together federation, where the country decides
to create constituent units, thereby dividing the powers and duties between the centre and
the states.
The following are the five provisions that make India a full-fledged federation.

Two or more levels of government: We have a federal system whereby the

constitution has more than two tiers of the government, viz. the Union
Government, State Governments and Local Government. This implies that there are
more than two levels of government administration among which powers are divided
and duties are given.
Three Lists: The powers are divided between the Centre and the States by three Lists:
Union list, State List and Concurrent list.
Union List deals with the issues relating to the Centre, State List deals with the issues
relating to the States and Concurrent List deals with the matters of both the Centre and
the States.
Rigid Constitution: The Government of India is governed by the Constitution of India
and it is considered the Supreme Power in the Country. It is not an easy task to amend
the constitution. For a constitutional provision to be amended, it requires ratification by
half of the State Legislatures, failing which the Constitution cannot be amended.
Bicameral Legislature: India has a bicameral legislature which means that the
Parliament consists of two houses, viz, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. One
represents the country and the other represents the interest of the constituent states.
Financial Autonomy: The revenue sources of both the Centre and States have been
clearly defined, that ensures financial autonomy to both the Centre and the States. In
layman’s language, the Centre and the State have different sources of income, which
means they are independent of each other when it comes to revenue.
Independent Judiciary: Independent judiciary is the essence of federal government.
Here, courts have the power to interpret the constitution and the powers of the different
levels of government. In India, the highest court—the Supreme Court—acts as an
umpire if a dispute arises between the different levels of government in the exercise of
their respective powers,