DP (X)- LESSON-2
FEDERLISM
QUESTION ANSWERS
_______________________________________________________________________
NCERT EXERCISE
2.
Identify and shade three federal countries (other than India) on a blank
outline political map of the world.
Answer.
1.
South
Africa
2.
Pakistan
3.
Australia
1.
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.
Answer. Feature in the practice of federalism in India that is similar
to that of Belgium –
1.
There
is power-sharing between the union government and state government.
2.
Feature
in the practice of federalism in India that is different from that of Belgium –
India has no community government in practice, while Belgium has one.
2.
What is the main difference
between a federal form of government and a unitary one? Explain with an
example.
Answer.
|
Federal Form |
Unitary Form |
|
There is a sharing of power between union and state government. |
The power is centralised with the union government, and there is no
role of state governments. |
|
Example – India (India is a federal country with union government at
the centre and state governments at the state level and Panchayati Raj at the
local level.) |
Example – Sri Lanka (The national government has all the powers.) |
5. State any two differences between the local government before and after the Constitutional amendment in 1992.
Answer.
|
Local
Government Pre-1992 |
Local Government Post Constitutional Amendment
1992 |
|
Elections to these local governments were not held regularly |
Now, it is constitutionally mandated to hold regular elections to
local government bodies |
|
Local governments did not have any powers or resources of their own. |
The State governments are required to share some powers and revenue
with local government bodies. The nature of sharing varies from State to
State. |
6.
Fill in the blanks:
Since
the United States is a ___________________ type of federation, all the constituent
States have equal powers and States are ______________vis-Ã -vis the federal
government. But India is a _____________________ type of federation and some
States have more power than others. In India, the ____________ government has
more powers.
Answer.
Since the
United States is a coming together type of the federation, all the
constituent States have equal powers and States are strong vis-Ã -vis
the federal government. But India is a holding together type of
federation and some States have more power than others. In India, the central government
has more powers.
7.
Here are three reactions to the language policy followed in India. Give an
argument and an example to support any of these positions.
Sangeeta:
The policy of accommodation has strengthened national unity.
Arman:
the Language-based States have divided us by making everyone conscious of their
language.
Harish:
This policy has only helped to consolidate the dominance of English over all
other languages.
Answer.
The policy of
accommodation mentioned by Sangeeta is a correct reaction to the language
policy followed in India. Due to this policy, India stands in unity with states
having different languages. Had India not followed the policy of accommodation,
several states could have proposed separation from the country.
8.
The distinguishing feature of a federal government is:
1.
The
national government gives some powers to the provincial governments.
2.
Power
is distributed among the legislature, executive and judiciary.
3.
Elected
officials exercise supreme power in the government.
4.
Governmental
power is divided between different levels of government
Answer.
4.
Governmental power is divided between different levels of government
9.
A few subjects in various Lists of the Indian Constitution are given here.
Group them under the Union, State and Concurrent Lists as provided in the table
below.
1.
Defence
2.
Police
3.
Agriculture
4.
Education
5.
Banking
6.
Forests
7.
Communications
8.
Trade
9.
Marriages
|
Union List |
|||
|
State List |
|||
|
Concurrent List |
Answer.
|
Union List |
Defence |
Communications |
Banking |
|
State List |
Police |
Agriculture |
Trade |
|
Concurrent List |
Education |
Forests |
Marriages |
10.
Examine the following pairs that give the level of government in India and the
powers of the government at that level to make laws on the subjects mentioned
against each. Which of the following pairs is not correctly matched?
|
State
government |
State List |
|
Central government |
Union List |
|
Central and State governments |
Concurrent List |
|
Local governments |
Residuary powers |
Answer.
|
Local governments |
Residuary powers |
11.Match
List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below
the lists:
|
List-I |
List-II |
|
Union of India |
Prime Minister |
|
State |
Sarpanch |
|
Municipal Corporation |
Governor |
|
Gram Panchayat |
Mayor |
Answer.
|
List-I |
List-II |
|
Union of India |
Prime Minister |
|
State |
Governor |
|
Municipal Corporation |
Mayor |
|
Gram Panchayat |
Sarpanch |
12.
Consider the following two statements.
1.
In a federation, the powers of the federal and provincial governments
are clearly demarcated.
2.
India is a federation because the powers of the Union and State
Governments are specified in the Constitution and they have exclusive
jurisdiction on their respective subjects.
3.
Sri Lanka is a federation because the country is divided into provinces.
4.
India is no longer a federation because some powers of the States have
been devolved to the local government bodies.
Which
of the statements given above are correct?
1.
A,
B and C
2.
A,
C and D
3.
A
and B only
4.
B
and C only
Answer.
(c) A and B
only
OTHER IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
1. The number of seats reserved for women
in the panchayats and municipalities is
(a) one-fourth
(b) one-third
(c) half
(d) one-fifth
2.
‘Holding together federations are not found in
(a) India
(b) Spain
(c) Belgium
(d) Australia3.
Subjects like computer software comes in the
(a) Union List
(b) State List
(c) Concurrent List
(d) Residuary List
4. Which of the following states has been
given a special status?
(a) Jammu and Kashmir
(b) Tripura
(c) Bihar
(d) Haryana
5. The number of Scheduled Languages in
India is
(a) 21
(b) 22
(c) 23
(d) 25
6. Which one of the following States in India has its
own Constitution?
(a) Uttarakhand
(b) Madhya Pradesh
(c) J & K
(d) Nagaland7. Which among the following are examples of ‘Coming
together federations’?
(a) India, Spain and Belgium
(b) India, USA and Spain
(c) USA, Switzerland and Australia
(d) Belgium and Sri Lanka8. In India’s federal system, the state governments
have the power to legislate on all those subjects which are included in the:
(a) Union list
(b) State list
(c) Concurrent list
(d) Residuary subjects9. The Constitution of India
(a) divided powers
between centre and states in three lists.
(b) divided powers between centre and states in two lists.
(c) listed the powers of the states and left the undefined powers to the state.
(d) Specified the pow ers of the states and left the residuary powers with the
centre.10. In case of a clash between the laws made by the
centre and a state on a subject in the concurrent list:
(a) the state law
prevails.
(b) the central law prevails.
(c) both the laws prevail within their respective jurisdictions.
(d) the Supreme Court has to intervene to decide.11. What is the third tier of government known as?
(a) Village Panchayats
(b) State government
(c) Local self-government
(d) Zila Parishad12. What is true regarding sources of revenue in a
federal system?
(a) States have no
financial powers or independent sources of revenue.
(b) States are dependent on revenue or funds on the central government.
(c) Sources of revenue for each level of government are clearly specified to
ensure its financial autonomy.
(d) States have no financial autonomy.13. Which of the following is incorrect regarding a
unitary government?
(a) There is either
only one level of government or the sub-units are subordinate to the central
government.
(b) The central government can pass on orders to the provincial government.
(c) A state government is conservable to central government.
(d) The powers of state governments are guaranteed by the Constitution.14. What are the kinds of routes through which
federations have been formed?
(a) One route involves
independent states coming together on their own to form a bigger unit
(b) The second route is where a large country decides to divide its powers
between the states and the national government
(c) Both a and b
(d) None of these15. Which period saw the rise of regional political
parties in many states of the country?
(a) Period after 1990
(b) Period after 2000
(c) Period after 1980
(d) Period after 197016. Which language is recognised as the national
language by the Constitution of India?
(a) Hindi
(b) English
(c) Tamil
(d) None of these17. Which state of India enjoys a special status and
has its own Constitution?
(a) Bihar
(b) Uttar Pradesh
(c) Kerala
(d) Jammu and Kashmir18. Which of the following subjects is not included in
the Union list?
(a) Defence
(b) Foreign affairs
(c) Police
(d) Banking19.
Which of the following is not an example of
‘holding together’ federations?
(a) India
(b) Spain
(c) Belgium
(d) Switzerland20.
Which level of government in India has the power to
legislate on the ‘residuary’ subjects?
(a) Union government
(b) State government
(c) Local self-government
(d) Both a and b
Answers
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
B
d
d
A
b
c
c
b
a
b
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
C
c
d
C
a
B
d
c
d
a
1. Which state in India has its own
Constitution? (2012)
Answer: Jammu and Kashmir
2.What is Rural local self government
popularly known as? (2013)
Answer: Panchayati Raj
3.Which local body has a ‘Mayor’ as its
head? (2014)
Answer: Head of Municipal Corporation is a Mayor.
4. What other factors besides politics keep
the federations united? (2015)
Answer: Besides politics, other factors which keep the federations united
are culture, ideology and history. Culture of trust, cooperation, mutual
respect and restraint has also helped in the smooth functioning of nations.
5. What was the main objective of the
Constitutional Amendment made in 1992 in India? (2015)
Answer: The main objective of the Constitutional Amendment in 1992 was to
strengthen the three-tier system of governance, i.e., make the Panchayati Raj
Institution and the urban local bodies more powerful and effective.
6. What status has been given to the
‘Hindi’ language by the Constitution of India?
Answer: Hindi has been given the status of ‘Official language’ by the
Constitution of India.
7. Much of the official work in Indian States
is done in which language? (2014)
Answer: Much of the official work in Indian States
is done in the official language of the concerned state.
8. What is 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. This
vertical division of power among different levels of governments is referred to
as federalism.
9. Name the subject list from which both
the Union and the State governments can make laws?
Answer: Concurrent List
10. Explain the
vertical division of power by giving examples from India. (2013)
Answer: When power is shared among governments at
different levels, i.e., the Union or the Central Government, the State
Government and the Municipality and Panchayat at the lower level. This division
of power involving higher and lower levels of government is called the vertical
division of power.
Vertical division of power in India:
The Constitution declares India
as a Union of States. Although the word ‘Federation’ is not used, the Indian
Union is based on the principles of federation. The Constitution originally
provided for a two-tier system of government, the Union Government or the
Central Government representing Union of India and the State Governments.
A third-tier of federation
was added in the form of Panchayats and Municipalities. As in any federation,
these different tiers enjoy separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provides
for a three-fold distribution of legislative powers between the Union
Government and State Government. It contains three lists:
Union List (97 Subjects)
State List (66 Subjects)
Concurrent List (47
Subjects)
10. Why is decentralisation favoured in democracy?
Identify any two reasons.
Answer: Five advantages of decentralisation of
power:
When power is taken away
from Central and State Governments and given to local governments, it is called
decentralisation. The basic idea behind decentralisation is that there are a
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.
The need for
decentralisation was recognised in our Constitution. A major step towards
decentralisation was taken in 1992. The Constitution was amended to make the
third tier of democracy more powerful and effective.
12. India comes under which type of federation
and why? (2014)
Answer: 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. 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.
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 & Kashmir.
13. State two agreements through which
federations have been formed. Give an example of each.
Answer: (i) ‘Coming together’ federations—This agreement induces independent
states coming together on their own to form a bigger unit, so that by pooling
sovereignty and retaining identity they can increase their security.
Examples are: USA, Switzerland and Australia. All the constituent states have
equal power and are strong vis-a-vis the federal government.
(ii) ‘Holding together’
federations — In this agreement, a large country decides to divide its power
between the constituent States and the national government. The Central
Governments tend to be more powerful vis-a-vis the states. Often different
constituent units of the federation have unequal powers. Some units are granted
special powers, for example, India granted special powers to Jammu & Kashmir.
Other examples are Spain and Belgium.
14. Which five provisions of the
constitutional amendment of 1992 really strengthened the third tier of
democracy in India? Explain. (2015, 2013, 2012)
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation and strengthening of third tier
taken in 1992 were:
1.
Now it is
constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government
bodies.
2.
Seats are
reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other
backward classes (OBCs).
3.
Atleast
one-third of all positions and seats are reserved for women.
4.
An independent
institution called the State Election Commission was created to conduct
Panchayat and Municipal elections.
5.
The State
Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
15. Why has federalism succeeded in India?
Which are the policies adopted by India that have ensured it? Explain.
Answer: Reasons for success of federalism in India are:
1.
Clearly laid
out Constitutional Provisions providing a three-fold distribution of powers in
the three lists—Union List, State List and Concurrent List—between the Union
Government and State Governments.
2.
The nature of
democratic politics in our country which ensures that the spirit of federalism,
respect for diversity and desire for living together became a shared ideal.
3.
The creation of
linguistic states. Boundaries of several old states of India were changed in
order to create new states. This was done to ensure that people who spoke the
same language lived in the same state. Later some states were created to
recognise differences based on culture, ethnicity or geography.
For example: Nagaland, Uttrakhand, Jharkhand, Telangana, etc.
4.
Restricting
Centre-State relations. The constitutional arrangements for sharing power work
depending on how the ruling parties and leaders follow these arrangements. For
a long time, the same party ruled both at the Centre and in most of states. Post-1990
saw the rise of regional parties. Since no single party got a clear majority in
the Lok Sabha, the national parties had to enter into an alliance which led to
a new culture of power sharing and respect for autonomy of State Governments.
16. Explain any five features of federalism.
(2015)
Answer: Features of federalism:
1.
There are two
or more levels of government.
2.
Different
levels of government govern the same citizens, where each level has its own
jurisdiction in specific matters of legislation, taxation and administration.
3.
Existence and
authority of each level of government is constitutionally governed.
4.
The fundamental
provisions of the Constitution cannot be unilaterally changed. Such changes
require the consent of both the levels of government.
5.
Courts have the
power to interpret the Constitution and powers of the different levels of
government. The highest court acts as the umpire if any dispute arises between
different levels of governments.
6.
Sources of
revenue for each level of government are specified to ensure its financial
autonomy.
7.
Federal system
has dual objectives. To safeguard and promote unity of the country, and to
accommodate regional diversity.
17. Describe the three forms of power sharing
among different organs of government in India. (2014)
Answer: The Constitution declared India as a Union of States based on the
principles of federalism. The Constitution originally provided for a two-tier
system of government, the Union or the Central Government representing Union of
India and the State Governments. Later, a third tier was added in the form of
Panchayats and Municipalities.
As in any federation, these
different tiers enjoyed separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provided a
three-fold distribution of legislative powers:
1.
Union List
includes subjects of national importance, i.e., defence of the country, foreign
affairs, banking, communications and currency.
2.
State List
contains subjects of state and local importance, i.e., police, trade, commerce,
agriculture and irrigation.
3.
Concurrent List
includes subjects of common interest to both the Union Government as well as
the State Governments, i.e., education, forests, trade unions, marriages,
adoption and succession.
In case of dispute, law made by the Union Government shall prevail.
4.
Residuary—Subjects
which do not fall in any of the three lists, i.e., computer software, etc.
Union Government has the power to legislate such subjects.
As India is an example of
‘holding together’ federation, all states in the Indian Union do not have
identical powers. Some states enjoy special status such as Jammu & Kashmir.
There are some states too small to become independent like the Union
Territories of Chandigarh and Lakshadweep.
This sharing of power
between the Union Government and State Governments is basic to the structure of
the Constitution. Any change to it, has to be passed by both the Houses of the
Parliament with at least two-third majority.
The judiciary plays an
important role in the implementation of constitutional procedures. In case of
any dispute about division of powers, the High Courts and the Supreme Court
make a decision.
18. Describe in brief the language policy of
India?
Answer: Our Constitution did not give the status of national language to any
one language.
1.
The formation
of linguistic states united the country and made administration easier.
2.
The leaders of
our country adopted a very cautious attitude in spreading the use of Hindi.
Hindi was identified as official language.
3.
The banning of
use of English for official purposes in 1965 took a violent form in Tamil Nadu.
The Central Government responded by agreeing to continue the use of English
along with Hindi for official purposes.
4.
Promotion of
Hindi is an official policy of the Government of India but it does not impose
Hindi on states where people speak a different language.
5.
Besides Hindi,
there are 21 other languages recognised as scheduled languages by the
Constitution.
6.
This
flexibility shown by Indian leaders helped our country avoid the situation that
Sri Lanka finds itself in.
19. What were the major steps taken to make
decentralisation more effective?
Or
What amendments were made in the Constitution in order to make the third tier
of democracy (Local Government) more powerful and effective?
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation taken
in 1992 are:
1.
Now it is
constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government bodies.
2.
Seats are
reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other
backward classes (OBCs).
3.
Atleast
one-third of all positions are reserved for women.
4.
The State
Election Commission was created to conduct Panchayat and Municipal elections.
5.
The State
Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
20. Explain the structure of the new Panchayati Raj
institutions, both in rural and urban areas.
Answer: Rural Local Government is known by the name of Panachayati Raj/
Democratic decentralization.
Each village or group of
villages has a Gram Panchayat.
Panch, President or
Sarpanch are directly elected by all the adult population of the village and is
the decision-making body.
The Panchayat works under
the supervision of Gram Sabha, with all the voters as its members.
The local structure goes up
to the district level—a group of Gram Panchayats form a Panchayat Samiti or
Block or Mandal.
All the Panchayat Samitis
or Mandals together constitute the Zilla Parishad which consists of elected
members.
Lok Sabha members, Local
MLAs and officers are also members of the Zilla Parishad.
Its Chairperson is the
political head of the Parishad.
Urban areas local bodies.
Municipalities are set up
in towns.
Big cities are constituted
into Municipal Corporations.
Both are controlled by
elected bodies consisting of people’s representatives.
Municipal chairperson is
the political head of the Municipality.
The head of Municipal Corporation is an officer called the Mayor.
21. How is federal power sharing more effective today
than in the early years? Explain.
Answer: Federal power sharing is more effective because of the nature of
democratic politics in India. It has ensured that the spirit of federalism,
respect for diversity and desire for living together have become a shared ideal
in our country.
Federal power sharing has
helped to inculcate a habit of democratic participation. Federal power sharing
is the best way to realise one important principle of democracy, namely local
self-government. Constitutional status for local government has helped to
deepen democracy.
It has increased women’s
representation and voice in democracy.
Federal power sharing has
led to formation of linguistic states which has actually made the country more
united. It has also made administration easier.
It reduces the power of the
Central government and gives power to regional governments.
Subjects like computer software comes in the
(a) Union List
(b) State List
(c) Concurrent List
(d) Residuary List
4. Which of the following states has been
given a special status?
(a) Jammu and Kashmir
(b) Tripura
(c) Bihar
(d) Haryana
5. The number of Scheduled Languages in
India is
(a) 21
(b) 22
(c) 23
(d) 25
6. Which one of the following States in India has its
own Constitution?
(a) Uttarakhand
(b) Madhya Pradesh
(c) J & K
(d) Nagaland7. Which among the following are examples of ‘Coming
together federations’?
(a) India, Spain and Belgium
(b) India, USA and Spain
(c) USA, Switzerland and Australia
(d) Belgium and Sri Lanka8. In India’s federal system, the state governments
have the power to legislate on all those subjects which are included in the:
(a) Union list
(b) State list
(c) Concurrent list
(d) Residuary subjects9. The Constitution of India
(a) divided powers
between centre and states in three lists.
(b) divided powers between centre and states in two lists.
(c) listed the powers of the states and left the undefined powers to the state.
(d) Specified the pow ers of the states and left the residuary powers with the
centre.10. In case of a clash between the laws made by the
centre and a state on a subject in the concurrent list:
(a) the state law
prevails.
(b) the central law prevails.
(c) both the laws prevail within their respective jurisdictions.
(d) the Supreme Court has to intervene to decide.11. What is the third tier of government known as?
(a) Village Panchayats
(b) State government
(c) Local self-government
(d) Zila Parishad12. What is true regarding sources of revenue in a
federal system?
(a) States have no
financial powers or independent sources of revenue.
(b) States are dependent on revenue or funds on the central government.
(c) Sources of revenue for each level of government are clearly specified to
ensure its financial autonomy.
(d) States have no financial autonomy.13. Which of the following is incorrect regarding a
unitary government?
(a) There is either
only one level of government or the sub-units are subordinate to the central
government.
(b) The central government can pass on orders to the provincial government.
(c) A state government is conservable to central government.
(d) The powers of state governments are guaranteed by the Constitution.14. What are the kinds of routes through which
federations have been formed?
(a) One route involves
independent states coming together on their own to form a bigger unit
(b) The second route is where a large country decides to divide its powers
between the states and the national government
(c) Both a and b
(d) None of these15. Which period saw the rise of regional political
parties in many states of the country?
(a) Period after 1990
(b) Period after 2000
(c) Period after 1980
(d) Period after 197016. Which language is recognised as the national
language by the Constitution of India?
(a) Hindi
(b) English
(c) Tamil
(d) None of these17. Which state of India enjoys a special status and
has its own Constitution?
(a) Bihar
(b) Uttar Pradesh
(c) Kerala
(d) Jammu and Kashmir18. Which of the following subjects is not included in
the Union list?
(a) Defence
(b) Foreign affairs
(c) Police
(d) Banking19.
Which of the following is not an example of
‘holding together’ federations?
(a) India
(b) Spain
(c) Belgium
(d) Switzerland20.
Which level of government in India has the power to
legislate on the ‘residuary’ subjects?
(a) Union government
(b) State government
(c) Local self-government
(d) Both a and b
Answers
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
B
d
d
A
b
c
c
b
a
b
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
C
c
d
C
a
B
d
c
d
a
1. Which state in India has its own
Constitution? (2012)
Answer: Jammu and Kashmir
2.What is Rural local self government
popularly known as? (2013)
Answer: Panchayati Raj
3.Which local body has a ‘Mayor’ as its
head? (2014)
Answer: Head of Municipal Corporation is a Mayor.
4. What other factors besides politics keep
the federations united? (2015)
Answer: Besides politics, other factors which keep the federations united
are culture, ideology and history. Culture of trust, cooperation, mutual
respect and restraint has also helped in the smooth functioning of nations.
5. What was the main objective of the
Constitutional Amendment made in 1992 in India? (2015)
Answer: The main objective of the Constitutional Amendment in 1992 was to
strengthen the three-tier system of governance, i.e., make the Panchayati Raj
Institution and the urban local bodies more powerful and effective.
6. What status has been given to the
‘Hindi’ language by the Constitution of India?
Answer: Hindi has been given the status of ‘Official language’ by the
Constitution of India.
7. Much of the official work in Indian States
is done in which language? (2014)
Answer: Much of the official work in Indian States
is done in the official language of the concerned state.
8. What is 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. This
vertical division of power among different levels of governments is referred to
as federalism.
9. Name the subject list from which both
the Union and the State governments can make laws?
Answer: Concurrent List
10. Explain the
vertical division of power by giving examples from India. (2013)
Answer: When power is shared among governments at
different levels, i.e., the Union or the Central Government, the State
Government and the Municipality and Panchayat at the lower level. This division
of power involving higher and lower levels of government is called the vertical
division of power.
Vertical division of power in India:
The Constitution declares India
as a Union of States. Although the word ‘Federation’ is not used, the Indian
Union is based on the principles of federation. The Constitution originally
provided for a two-tier system of government, the Union Government or the
Central Government representing Union of India and the State Governments.
A third-tier of federation
was added in the form of Panchayats and Municipalities. As in any federation,
these different tiers enjoy separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provides
for a three-fold distribution of legislative powers between the Union
Government and State Government. It contains three lists:
Union List (97 Subjects)
State List (66 Subjects)
Concurrent List (47
Subjects)
10. Why is decentralisation favoured in democracy?
Identify any two reasons.
Answer: Five advantages of decentralisation of
power:
When power is taken away
from Central and State Governments and given to local governments, it is called
decentralisation. The basic idea behind decentralisation is that there are a
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.
The need for
decentralisation was recognised in our Constitution. A major step towards
decentralisation was taken in 1992. The Constitution was amended to make the
third tier of democracy more powerful and effective.
12. India comes under which type of federation
and why? (2014)
Answer: 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. 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.
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 & Kashmir.
13. State two agreements through which
federations have been formed. Give an example of each.
Answer: (i) ‘Coming together’ federations—This agreement induces independent
states coming together on their own to form a bigger unit, so that by pooling
sovereignty and retaining identity they can increase their security.
Examples are: USA, Switzerland and Australia. All the constituent states have
equal power and are strong vis-a-vis the federal government.
(ii) ‘Holding together’
federations — In this agreement, a large country decides to divide its power
between the constituent States and the national government. The Central
Governments tend to be more powerful vis-a-vis the states. Often different
constituent units of the federation have unequal powers. Some units are granted
special powers, for example, India granted special powers to Jammu & Kashmir.
Other examples are Spain and Belgium.
14. Which five provisions of the
constitutional amendment of 1992 really strengthened the third tier of
democracy in India? Explain. (2015, 2013, 2012)
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation and strengthening of third tier
taken in 1992 were:
1.
Now it is
constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government
bodies.
2.
Seats are
reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other
backward classes (OBCs).
3.
Atleast
one-third of all positions and seats are reserved for women.
4.
An independent
institution called the State Election Commission was created to conduct
Panchayat and Municipal elections.
5.
The State
Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
15. Why has federalism succeeded in India?
Which are the policies adopted by India that have ensured it? Explain.
Answer: Reasons for success of federalism in India are:
1.
Clearly laid
out Constitutional Provisions providing a three-fold distribution of powers in
the three lists—Union List, State List and Concurrent List—between the Union
Government and State Governments.
2.
The nature of
democratic politics in our country which ensures that the spirit of federalism,
respect for diversity and desire for living together became a shared ideal.
3.
The creation of
linguistic states. Boundaries of several old states of India were changed in
order to create new states. This was done to ensure that people who spoke the
same language lived in the same state. Later some states were created to
recognise differences based on culture, ethnicity or geography.
For example: Nagaland, Uttrakhand, Jharkhand, Telangana, etc.
4.
Restricting
Centre-State relations. The constitutional arrangements for sharing power work
depending on how the ruling parties and leaders follow these arrangements. For
a long time, the same party ruled both at the Centre and in most of states. Post-1990
saw the rise of regional parties. Since no single party got a clear majority in
the Lok Sabha, the national parties had to enter into an alliance which led to
a new culture of power sharing and respect for autonomy of State Governments.
16. Explain any five features of federalism.
(2015)
Answer: Features of federalism:
1.
There are two
or more levels of government.
2.
Different
levels of government govern the same citizens, where each level has its own
jurisdiction in specific matters of legislation, taxation and administration.
3.
Existence and
authority of each level of government is constitutionally governed.
4.
The fundamental
provisions of the Constitution cannot be unilaterally changed. Such changes
require the consent of both the levels of government.
5.
Courts have the
power to interpret the Constitution and powers of the different levels of
government. The highest court acts as the umpire if any dispute arises between
different levels of governments.
6.
Sources of
revenue for each level of government are specified to ensure its financial
autonomy.
7.
Federal system
has dual objectives. To safeguard and promote unity of the country, and to
accommodate regional diversity.
17. Describe the three forms of power sharing
among different organs of government in India. (2014)
Answer: The Constitution declared India as a Union of States based on the
principles of federalism. The Constitution originally provided for a two-tier
system of government, the Union or the Central Government representing Union of
India and the State Governments. Later, a third tier was added in the form of
Panchayats and Municipalities.
As in any federation, these
different tiers enjoyed separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provided a
three-fold distribution of legislative powers:
1.
Union List
includes subjects of national importance, i.e., defence of the country, foreign
affairs, banking, communications and currency.
2.
State List
contains subjects of state and local importance, i.e., police, trade, commerce,
agriculture and irrigation.
3.
Concurrent List
includes subjects of common interest to both the Union Government as well as
the State Governments, i.e., education, forests, trade unions, marriages,
adoption and succession.
In case of dispute, law made by the Union Government shall prevail.
4.
Residuary—Subjects
which do not fall in any of the three lists, i.e., computer software, etc.
Union Government has the power to legislate such subjects.
As India is an example of
‘holding together’ federation, all states in the Indian Union do not have
identical powers. Some states enjoy special status such as Jammu & Kashmir.
There are some states too small to become independent like the Union
Territories of Chandigarh and Lakshadweep.
This sharing of power
between the Union Government and State Governments is basic to the structure of
the Constitution. Any change to it, has to be passed by both the Houses of the
Parliament with at least two-third majority.
The judiciary plays an
important role in the implementation of constitutional procedures. In case of
any dispute about division of powers, the High Courts and the Supreme Court
make a decision.
18. Describe in brief the language policy of
India?
Answer: Our Constitution did not give the status of national language to any
one language.
1.
The formation
of linguistic states united the country and made administration easier.
2.
The leaders of
our country adopted a very cautious attitude in spreading the use of Hindi.
Hindi was identified as official language.
3.
The banning of
use of English for official purposes in 1965 took a violent form in Tamil Nadu.
The Central Government responded by agreeing to continue the use of English
along with Hindi for official purposes.
4.
Promotion of
Hindi is an official policy of the Government of India but it does not impose
Hindi on states where people speak a different language.
5.
Besides Hindi,
there are 21 other languages recognised as scheduled languages by the
Constitution.
6.
This
flexibility shown by Indian leaders helped our country avoid the situation that
Sri Lanka finds itself in.
19. What were the major steps taken to make
decentralisation more effective?
Or
What amendments were made in the Constitution in order to make the third tier
of democracy (Local Government) more powerful and effective?
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation taken
in 1992 are:
1.
Now it is
constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government bodies.
2.
Seats are
reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other
backward classes (OBCs).
3.
Atleast
one-third of all positions are reserved for women.
4.
The State
Election Commission was created to conduct Panchayat and Municipal elections.
5.
The State
Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
20. Explain the structure of the new Panchayati Raj
institutions, both in rural and urban areas.
Answer: Rural Local Government is known by the name of Panachayati Raj/
Democratic decentralization.
Each village or group of
villages has a Gram Panchayat.
Panch, President or
Sarpanch are directly elected by all the adult population of the village and is
the decision-making body.
The Panchayat works under
the supervision of Gram Sabha, with all the voters as its members.
The local structure goes up
to the district level—a group of Gram Panchayats form a Panchayat Samiti or
Block or Mandal.
All the Panchayat Samitis
or Mandals together constitute the Zilla Parishad which consists of elected
members.
Lok Sabha members, Local
MLAs and officers are also members of the Zilla Parishad.
Its Chairperson is the
political head of the Parishad.
Urban areas local bodies.
Municipalities are set up
in towns.
Big cities are constituted
into Municipal Corporations.
Both are controlled by
elected bodies consisting of people’s representatives.
Municipal chairperson is
the political head of the Municipality.
The head of Municipal Corporation is an officer called the Mayor.
21. How is federal power sharing more effective today
than in the early years? Explain.
Answer: Federal power sharing is more effective because of the nature of
democratic politics in India. It has ensured that the spirit of federalism,
respect for diversity and desire for living together have become a shared ideal
in our country.
Federal power sharing has
helped to inculcate a habit of democratic participation. Federal power sharing
is the best way to realise one important principle of democracy, namely local
self-government. Constitutional status for local government has helped to
deepen democracy.
It has increased women’s
representation and voice in democracy.
Federal power sharing has
led to formation of linguistic states which has actually made the country more
united. It has also made administration easier.
It reduces the power of the
Central government and gives power to regional governments.
4. Which of the following states has been
given a special status?
(a) Jammu and Kashmir
(b) Tripura
(c) Bihar
(d) Haryana
5. The number of Scheduled Languages in
India is
(a) 21
(b) 22
(c) 23
(d) 25
6. Which one of the following States in India has its
own Constitution?
(a) Uttarakhand
(b) Madhya Pradesh
(c) J & K
(d) Nagaland7. Which among the following are examples of ‘Coming
together federations’?
(a) India, Spain and Belgium
(b) India, USA and Spain
(c) USA, Switzerland and Australia
(d) Belgium and Sri Lanka8. In India’s federal system, the state governments
have the power to legislate on all those subjects which are included in the:
(a) Union list
(b) State list
(c) Concurrent list
(d) Residuary subjects9. The Constitution of India
(a) divided powers
between centre and states in three lists.
(b) divided powers between centre and states in two lists.
(c) listed the powers of the states and left the undefined powers to the state.
(d) Specified the pow ers of the states and left the residuary powers with the
centre.10. In case of a clash between the laws made by the
centre and a state on a subject in the concurrent list:
(a) the state law
prevails.
(b) the central law prevails.
(c) both the laws prevail within their respective jurisdictions.
(d) the Supreme Court has to intervene to decide.11. What is the third tier of government known as?
(a) Village Panchayats
(b) State government
(c) Local self-government
(d) Zila Parishad12. What is true regarding sources of revenue in a
federal system?
(a) States have no
financial powers or independent sources of revenue.
(b) States are dependent on revenue or funds on the central government.
(c) Sources of revenue for each level of government are clearly specified to
ensure its financial autonomy.
(d) States have no financial autonomy.13. Which of the following is incorrect regarding a
unitary government?
(a) There is either
only one level of government or the sub-units are subordinate to the central
government.
(b) The central government can pass on orders to the provincial government.
(c) A state government is conservable to central government.
(d) The powers of state governments are guaranteed by the Constitution.14. What are the kinds of routes through which
federations have been formed?
(a) One route involves
independent states coming together on their own to form a bigger unit
(b) The second route is where a large country decides to divide its powers
between the states and the national government
(c) Both a and b
(d) None of these15. Which period saw the rise of regional political
parties in many states of the country?
(a) Period after 1990
(b) Period after 2000
(c) Period after 1980
(d) Period after 197016. Which language is recognised as the national
language by the Constitution of India?
(a) Hindi
(b) English
(c) Tamil
(d) None of these17. Which state of India enjoys a special status and
has its own Constitution?
(a) Bihar
(b) Uttar Pradesh
(c) Kerala
(d) Jammu and Kashmir18. Which of the following subjects is not included in
the Union list?
(a) Defence
(b) Foreign affairs
(c) Police
(d) Banking19.
Which of the following is not an example of
‘holding together’ federations?
(a) India
(b) Spain
(c) Belgium
(d) Switzerland20.
Which level of government in India has the power to
legislate on the ‘residuary’ subjects?
(a) Union government
(b) State government
(c) Local self-government
(d) Both a and b
Answers
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
B
d
d
A
b
c
c
b
a
b
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
C
c
d
C
a
B
d
c
d
a
1. Which state in India has its own
Constitution? (2012)
Answer: Jammu and Kashmir
2.What is Rural local self government
popularly known as? (2013)
Answer: Panchayati Raj
3.Which local body has a ‘Mayor’ as its
head? (2014)
Answer: Head of Municipal Corporation is a Mayor.
4. What other factors besides politics keep
the federations united? (2015)
Answer: Besides politics, other factors which keep the federations united
are culture, ideology and history. Culture of trust, cooperation, mutual
respect and restraint has also helped in the smooth functioning of nations.
5. What was the main objective of the
Constitutional Amendment made in 1992 in India? (2015)
Answer: The main objective of the Constitutional Amendment in 1992 was to
strengthen the three-tier system of governance, i.e., make the Panchayati Raj
Institution and the urban local bodies more powerful and effective.
6. What status has been given to the
‘Hindi’ language by the Constitution of India?
Answer: Hindi has been given the status of ‘Official language’ by the
Constitution of India.
7. Much of the official work in Indian States
is done in which language? (2014)
Answer: Much of the official work in Indian States
is done in the official language of the concerned state.
8. What is 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. This
vertical division of power among different levels of governments is referred to
as federalism.
9. Name the subject list from which both
the Union and the State governments can make laws?
Answer: Concurrent List
10. Explain the
vertical division of power by giving examples from India. (2013)
Answer: When power is shared among governments at
different levels, i.e., the Union or the Central Government, the State
Government and the Municipality and Panchayat at the lower level. This division
of power involving higher and lower levels of government is called the vertical
division of power.
Vertical division of power in India:
The Constitution declares India
as a Union of States. Although the word ‘Federation’ is not used, the Indian
Union is based on the principles of federation. The Constitution originally
provided for a two-tier system of government, the Union Government or the
Central Government representing Union of India and the State Governments.
A third-tier of federation
was added in the form of Panchayats and Municipalities. As in any federation,
these different tiers enjoy separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provides
for a three-fold distribution of legislative powers between the Union
Government and State Government. It contains three lists:
Union List (97 Subjects)
State List (66 Subjects)
Concurrent List (47
Subjects)
10. Why is decentralisation favoured in democracy?
Identify any two reasons.
Answer: Five advantages of decentralisation of
power:
When power is taken away
from Central and State Governments and given to local governments, it is called
decentralisation. The basic idea behind decentralisation is that there are a
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.
The need for
decentralisation was recognised in our Constitution. A major step towards
decentralisation was taken in 1992. The Constitution was amended to make the
third tier of democracy more powerful and effective.
12. India comes under which type of federation
and why? (2014)
Answer: 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. 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.
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 & Kashmir.
13. State two agreements through which
federations have been formed. Give an example of each.
Answer: (i) ‘Coming together’ federations—This agreement induces independent
states coming together on their own to form a bigger unit, so that by pooling
sovereignty and retaining identity they can increase their security.
Examples are: USA, Switzerland and Australia. All the constituent states have
equal power and are strong vis-a-vis the federal government.
(ii) ‘Holding together’
federations — In this agreement, a large country decides to divide its power
between the constituent States and the national government. The Central
Governments tend to be more powerful vis-a-vis the states. Often different
constituent units of the federation have unequal powers. Some units are granted
special powers, for example, India granted special powers to Jammu & Kashmir.
Other examples are Spain and Belgium.
14. Which five provisions of the
constitutional amendment of 1992 really strengthened the third tier of
democracy in India? Explain. (2015, 2013, 2012)
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation and strengthening of third tier
taken in 1992 were:
1.
Now it is
constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government
bodies.
2.
Seats are
reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other
backward classes (OBCs).
3.
Atleast
one-third of all positions and seats are reserved for women.
4.
An independent
institution called the State Election Commission was created to conduct
Panchayat and Municipal elections.
5.
The State
Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
15. Why has federalism succeeded in India?
Which are the policies adopted by India that have ensured it? Explain.
Answer: Reasons for success of federalism in India are:
1.
Clearly laid
out Constitutional Provisions providing a three-fold distribution of powers in
the three lists—Union List, State List and Concurrent List—between the Union
Government and State Governments.
2.
The nature of
democratic politics in our country which ensures that the spirit of federalism,
respect for diversity and desire for living together became a shared ideal.
3.
The creation of
linguistic states. Boundaries of several old states of India were changed in
order to create new states. This was done to ensure that people who spoke the
same language lived in the same state. Later some states were created to
recognise differences based on culture, ethnicity or geography.
For example: Nagaland, Uttrakhand, Jharkhand, Telangana, etc.
4.
Restricting
Centre-State relations. The constitutional arrangements for sharing power work
depending on how the ruling parties and leaders follow these arrangements. For
a long time, the same party ruled both at the Centre and in most of states. Post-1990
saw the rise of regional parties. Since no single party got a clear majority in
the Lok Sabha, the national parties had to enter into an alliance which led to
a new culture of power sharing and respect for autonomy of State Governments.
16. Explain any five features of federalism.
(2015)
Answer: Features of federalism:
1.
There are two
or more levels of government.
2.
Different
levels of government govern the same citizens, where each level has its own
jurisdiction in specific matters of legislation, taxation and administration.
3.
Existence and
authority of each level of government is constitutionally governed.
4.
The fundamental
provisions of the Constitution cannot be unilaterally changed. Such changes
require the consent of both the levels of government.
5.
Courts have the
power to interpret the Constitution and powers of the different levels of
government. The highest court acts as the umpire if any dispute arises between
different levels of governments.
6.
Sources of
revenue for each level of government are specified to ensure its financial
autonomy.
7.
Federal system
has dual objectives. To safeguard and promote unity of the country, and to
accommodate regional diversity.
17. Describe the three forms of power sharing
among different organs of government in India. (2014)
Answer: The Constitution declared India as a Union of States based on the
principles of federalism. The Constitution originally provided for a two-tier
system of government, the Union or the Central Government representing Union of
India and the State Governments. Later, a third tier was added in the form of
Panchayats and Municipalities.
As in any federation, these
different tiers enjoyed separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provided a
three-fold distribution of legislative powers:
1.
Union List
includes subjects of national importance, i.e., defence of the country, foreign
affairs, banking, communications and currency.
2.
State List
contains subjects of state and local importance, i.e., police, trade, commerce,
agriculture and irrigation.
3.
Concurrent List
includes subjects of common interest to both the Union Government as well as
the State Governments, i.e., education, forests, trade unions, marriages,
adoption and succession.
In case of dispute, law made by the Union Government shall prevail.
4.
Residuary—Subjects
which do not fall in any of the three lists, i.e., computer software, etc.
Union Government has the power to legislate such subjects.
As India is an example of
‘holding together’ federation, all states in the Indian Union do not have
identical powers. Some states enjoy special status such as Jammu & Kashmir.
There are some states too small to become independent like the Union
Territories of Chandigarh and Lakshadweep.
This sharing of power
between the Union Government and State Governments is basic to the structure of
the Constitution. Any change to it, has to be passed by both the Houses of the
Parliament with at least two-third majority.
The judiciary plays an
important role in the implementation of constitutional procedures. In case of
any dispute about division of powers, the High Courts and the Supreme Court
make a decision.
18. Describe in brief the language policy of
India?
Answer: Our Constitution did not give the status of national language to any
one language.
1.
The formation
of linguistic states united the country and made administration easier.
2.
The leaders of
our country adopted a very cautious attitude in spreading the use of Hindi.
Hindi was identified as official language.
3.
The banning of
use of English for official purposes in 1965 took a violent form in Tamil Nadu.
The Central Government responded by agreeing to continue the use of English
along with Hindi for official purposes.
4.
Promotion of
Hindi is an official policy of the Government of India but it does not impose
Hindi on states where people speak a different language.
5.
Besides Hindi,
there are 21 other languages recognised as scheduled languages by the
Constitution.
6.
This
flexibility shown by Indian leaders helped our country avoid the situation that
Sri Lanka finds itself in.
19. What were the major steps taken to make
decentralisation more effective?
Or
What amendments were made in the Constitution in order to make the third tier
of democracy (Local Government) more powerful and effective?
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation taken
in 1992 are:
1.
Now it is
constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government bodies.
2.
Seats are
reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other
backward classes (OBCs).
3.
Atleast
one-third of all positions are reserved for women.
4.
The State
Election Commission was created to conduct Panchayat and Municipal elections.
5.
The State
Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
20. Explain the structure of the new Panchayati Raj
institutions, both in rural and urban areas.
Answer: Rural Local Government is known by the name of Panachayati Raj/
Democratic decentralization.
Each village or group of
villages has a Gram Panchayat.
Panch, President or
Sarpanch are directly elected by all the adult population of the village and is
the decision-making body.
The Panchayat works under
the supervision of Gram Sabha, with all the voters as its members.
The local structure goes up
to the district level—a group of Gram Panchayats form a Panchayat Samiti or
Block or Mandal.
All the Panchayat Samitis
or Mandals together constitute the Zilla Parishad which consists of elected
members.
Lok Sabha members, Local
MLAs and officers are also members of the Zilla Parishad.
Its Chairperson is the
political head of the Parishad.
Urban areas local bodies.
Municipalities are set up
in towns.
Big cities are constituted
into Municipal Corporations.
Both are controlled by
elected bodies consisting of people’s representatives.
Municipal chairperson is
the political head of the Municipality.
The head of Municipal Corporation is an officer called the Mayor.
21. How is federal power sharing more effective today
than in the early years? Explain.
Answer: Federal power sharing is more effective because of the nature of
democratic politics in India. It has ensured that the spirit of federalism,
respect for diversity and desire for living together have become a shared ideal
in our country.
Federal power sharing has
helped to inculcate a habit of democratic participation. Federal power sharing
is the best way to realise one important principle of democracy, namely local
self-government. Constitutional status for local government has helped to
deepen democracy.
It has increased women’s
representation and voice in democracy.
Federal power sharing has
led to formation of linguistic states which has actually made the country more
united. It has also made administration easier.
It reduces the power of the
Central government and gives power to regional governments.
(a) Jammu and Kashmir
(b) Tripura
(c) Bihar
(d) Haryana
5. The number of Scheduled Languages in
India is
(a) 21
(b) 22
(c) 23
(d) 25
6. Which one of the following States in India has its
own Constitution?
(a) Uttarakhand
(b) Madhya Pradesh
(c) J & K
(d) Nagaland7. Which among the following are examples of ‘Coming
together federations’?
(a) India, Spain and Belgium
(b) India, USA and Spain
(c) USA, Switzerland and Australia
(d) Belgium and Sri Lanka8. In India’s federal system, the state governments
have the power to legislate on all those subjects which are included in the:
(a) Union list
(b) State list
(c) Concurrent list
(d) Residuary subjects9. The Constitution of India
(a) divided powers
between centre and states in three lists.
(b) divided powers between centre and states in two lists.
(c) listed the powers of the states and left the undefined powers to the state.
(d) Specified the pow ers of the states and left the residuary powers with the
centre.10. In case of a clash between the laws made by the
centre and a state on a subject in the concurrent list:
(a) the state law
prevails.
(b) the central law prevails.
(c) both the laws prevail within their respective jurisdictions.
(d) the Supreme Court has to intervene to decide.11. What is the third tier of government known as?
(a) Village Panchayats
(b) State government
(c) Local self-government
(d) Zila Parishad12. What is true regarding sources of revenue in a
federal system?
(a) States have no
financial powers or independent sources of revenue.
(b) States are dependent on revenue or funds on the central government.
(c) Sources of revenue for each level of government are clearly specified to
ensure its financial autonomy.
(d) States have no financial autonomy.13. Which of the following is incorrect regarding a
unitary government?
(a) There is either
only one level of government or the sub-units are subordinate to the central
government.
(b) The central government can pass on orders to the provincial government.
(c) A state government is conservable to central government.
(d) The powers of state governments are guaranteed by the Constitution.14. What are the kinds of routes through which
federations have been formed?
(a) One route involves
independent states coming together on their own to form a bigger unit
(b) The second route is where a large country decides to divide its powers
between the states and the national government
(c) Both a and b
(d) None of these15. Which period saw the rise of regional political
parties in many states of the country?
(a) Period after 1990
(b) Period after 2000
(c) Period after 1980
(d) Period after 197016. Which language is recognised as the national
language by the Constitution of India?
(a) Hindi
(b) English
(c) Tamil
(d) None of these17. Which state of India enjoys a special status and
has its own Constitution?
(a) Bihar
(b) Uttar Pradesh
(c) Kerala
(d) Jammu and Kashmir18. Which of the following subjects is not included in
the Union list?
(a) Defence
(b) Foreign affairs
(c) Police
(d) Banking19.
Which of the following is not an example of
‘holding together’ federations?
(a) India
(b) Spain
(c) Belgium
(d) Switzerland20.
Which level of government in India has the power to
legislate on the ‘residuary’ subjects?
(a) Union government
(b) State government
(c) Local self-government
(d) Both a and b
Answers
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
B
d
d
A
b
c
c
b
a
b
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
C
c
d
C
a
B
d
c
d
a
1. Which state in India has its own
Constitution? (2012)
Answer: Jammu and Kashmir
2.What is Rural local self government
popularly known as? (2013)
Answer: Panchayati Raj
3.Which local body has a ‘Mayor’ as its
head? (2014)
Answer: Head of Municipal Corporation is a Mayor.
4. What other factors besides politics keep
the federations united? (2015)
Answer: Besides politics, other factors which keep the federations united
are culture, ideology and history. Culture of trust, cooperation, mutual
respect and restraint has also helped in the smooth functioning of nations.
5. What was the main objective of the
Constitutional Amendment made in 1992 in India? (2015)
Answer: The main objective of the Constitutional Amendment in 1992 was to
strengthen the three-tier system of governance, i.e., make the Panchayati Raj
Institution and the urban local bodies more powerful and effective.
6. What status has been given to the
‘Hindi’ language by the Constitution of India?
Answer: Hindi has been given the status of ‘Official language’ by the
Constitution of India.
7. Much of the official work in Indian States
is done in which language? (2014)
Answer: Much of the official work in Indian States
is done in the official language of the concerned state.
8. What is 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. This
vertical division of power among different levels of governments is referred to
as federalism.
9. Name the subject list from which both
the Union and the State governments can make laws?
Answer: Concurrent List
10. Explain the
vertical division of power by giving examples from India. (2013)
Answer: When power is shared among governments at
different levels, i.e., the Union or the Central Government, the State
Government and the Municipality and Panchayat at the lower level. This division
of power involving higher and lower levels of government is called the vertical
division of power.
Vertical division of power in India:
The Constitution declares India
as a Union of States. Although the word ‘Federation’ is not used, the Indian
Union is based on the principles of federation. The Constitution originally
provided for a two-tier system of government, the Union Government or the
Central Government representing Union of India and the State Governments.
A third-tier of federation
was added in the form of Panchayats and Municipalities. As in any federation,
these different tiers enjoy separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provides
for a three-fold distribution of legislative powers between the Union
Government and State Government. It contains three lists:
Union List (97 Subjects)
State List (66 Subjects)
Concurrent List (47
Subjects)
10. Why is decentralisation favoured in democracy?
Identify any two reasons.
Answer: Five advantages of decentralisation of
power:
When power is taken away
from Central and State Governments and given to local governments, it is called
decentralisation. The basic idea behind decentralisation is that there are a
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.
The need for
decentralisation was recognised in our Constitution. A major step towards
decentralisation was taken in 1992. The Constitution was amended to make the
third tier of democracy more powerful and effective.
12. India comes under which type of federation
and why? (2014)
Answer: 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. 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.
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 & Kashmir.
13. State two agreements through which
federations have been formed. Give an example of each.
Answer: (i) ‘Coming together’ federations—This agreement induces independent
states coming together on their own to form a bigger unit, so that by pooling
sovereignty and retaining identity they can increase their security.
Examples are: USA, Switzerland and Australia. All the constituent states have
equal power and are strong vis-a-vis the federal government.
(ii) ‘Holding together’
federations — In this agreement, a large country decides to divide its power
between the constituent States and the national government. The Central
Governments tend to be more powerful vis-a-vis the states. Often different
constituent units of the federation have unequal powers. Some units are granted
special powers, for example, India granted special powers to Jammu & Kashmir.
Other examples are Spain and Belgium.
14. Which five provisions of the
constitutional amendment of 1992 really strengthened the third tier of
democracy in India? Explain. (2015, 2013, 2012)
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation and strengthening of third tier
taken in 1992 were:
1.
Now it is
constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government
bodies.
2.
Seats are
reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other
backward classes (OBCs).
3.
Atleast
one-third of all positions and seats are reserved for women.
4.
An independent
institution called the State Election Commission was created to conduct
Panchayat and Municipal elections.
5.
The State
Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
15. Why has federalism succeeded in India?
Which are the policies adopted by India that have ensured it? Explain.
Answer: Reasons for success of federalism in India are:
1.
Clearly laid
out Constitutional Provisions providing a three-fold distribution of powers in
the three lists—Union List, State List and Concurrent List—between the Union
Government and State Governments.
2.
The nature of
democratic politics in our country which ensures that the spirit of federalism,
respect for diversity and desire for living together became a shared ideal.
3.
The creation of
linguistic states. Boundaries of several old states of India were changed in
order to create new states. This was done to ensure that people who spoke the
same language lived in the same state. Later some states were created to
recognise differences based on culture, ethnicity or geography.
For example: Nagaland, Uttrakhand, Jharkhand, Telangana, etc.
4.
Restricting
Centre-State relations. The constitutional arrangements for sharing power work
depending on how the ruling parties and leaders follow these arrangements. For
a long time, the same party ruled both at the Centre and in most of states. Post-1990
saw the rise of regional parties. Since no single party got a clear majority in
the Lok Sabha, the national parties had to enter into an alliance which led to
a new culture of power sharing and respect for autonomy of State Governments.
16. Explain any five features of federalism.
(2015)
Answer: Features of federalism:
1.
There are two
or more levels of government.
2.
Different
levels of government govern the same citizens, where each level has its own
jurisdiction in specific matters of legislation, taxation and administration.
3.
Existence and
authority of each level of government is constitutionally governed.
4.
The fundamental
provisions of the Constitution cannot be unilaterally changed. Such changes
require the consent of both the levels of government.
5.
Courts have the
power to interpret the Constitution and powers of the different levels of
government. The highest court acts as the umpire if any dispute arises between
different levels of governments.
6.
Sources of
revenue for each level of government are specified to ensure its financial
autonomy.
7.
Federal system
has dual objectives. To safeguard and promote unity of the country, and to
accommodate regional diversity.
17. Describe the three forms of power sharing
among different organs of government in India. (2014)
Answer: The Constitution declared India as a Union of States based on the
principles of federalism. The Constitution originally provided for a two-tier
system of government, the Union or the Central Government representing Union of
India and the State Governments. Later, a third tier was added in the form of
Panchayats and Municipalities.
As in any federation, these
different tiers enjoyed separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provided a
three-fold distribution of legislative powers:
1.
Union List
includes subjects of national importance, i.e., defence of the country, foreign
affairs, banking, communications and currency.
2.
State List
contains subjects of state and local importance, i.e., police, trade, commerce,
agriculture and irrigation.
3.
Concurrent List
includes subjects of common interest to both the Union Government as well as
the State Governments, i.e., education, forests, trade unions, marriages,
adoption and succession.
In case of dispute, law made by the Union Government shall prevail.
4.
Residuary—Subjects
which do not fall in any of the three lists, i.e., computer software, etc.
Union Government has the power to legislate such subjects.
As India is an example of
‘holding together’ federation, all states in the Indian Union do not have
identical powers. Some states enjoy special status such as Jammu & Kashmir.
There are some states too small to become independent like the Union
Territories of Chandigarh and Lakshadweep.
This sharing of power
between the Union Government and State Governments is basic to the structure of
the Constitution. Any change to it, has to be passed by both the Houses of the
Parliament with at least two-third majority.
The judiciary plays an
important role in the implementation of constitutional procedures. In case of
any dispute about division of powers, the High Courts and the Supreme Court
make a decision.
18. Describe in brief the language policy of
India?
Answer: Our Constitution did not give the status of national language to any
one language.
1.
The formation
of linguistic states united the country and made administration easier.
2.
The leaders of
our country adopted a very cautious attitude in spreading the use of Hindi.
Hindi was identified as official language.
3.
The banning of
use of English for official purposes in 1965 took a violent form in Tamil Nadu.
The Central Government responded by agreeing to continue the use of English
along with Hindi for official purposes.
4.
Promotion of
Hindi is an official policy of the Government of India but it does not impose
Hindi on states where people speak a different language.
5.
Besides Hindi,
there are 21 other languages recognised as scheduled languages by the
Constitution.
6.
This
flexibility shown by Indian leaders helped our country avoid the situation that
Sri Lanka finds itself in.
19. What were the major steps taken to make
decentralisation more effective?
Or
What amendments were made in the Constitution in order to make the third tier
of democracy (Local Government) more powerful and effective?
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation taken
in 1992 are:
1.
Now it is
constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government bodies.
2.
Seats are
reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other
backward classes (OBCs).
3.
Atleast
one-third of all positions are reserved for women.
4.
The State
Election Commission was created to conduct Panchayat and Municipal elections.
5.
The State
Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
20. Explain the structure of the new Panchayati Raj
institutions, both in rural and urban areas.
Answer: Rural Local Government is known by the name of Panachayati Raj/
Democratic decentralization.
Each village or group of
villages has a Gram Panchayat.
Panch, President or
Sarpanch are directly elected by all the adult population of the village and is
the decision-making body.
The Panchayat works under
the supervision of Gram Sabha, with all the voters as its members.
The local structure goes up
to the district level—a group of Gram Panchayats form a Panchayat Samiti or
Block or Mandal.
All the Panchayat Samitis
or Mandals together constitute the Zilla Parishad which consists of elected
members.
Lok Sabha members, Local
MLAs and officers are also members of the Zilla Parishad.
Its Chairperson is the
political head of the Parishad.
Urban areas local bodies.
Municipalities are set up
in towns.
Big cities are constituted
into Municipal Corporations.
Both are controlled by
elected bodies consisting of people’s representatives.
Municipal chairperson is
the political head of the Municipality.
The head of Municipal Corporation is an officer called the Mayor.
21. How is federal power sharing more effective today
than in the early years? Explain.
Answer: Federal power sharing is more effective because of the nature of
democratic politics in India. It has ensured that the spirit of federalism,
respect for diversity and desire for living together have become a shared ideal
in our country.
Federal power sharing has
helped to inculcate a habit of democratic participation. Federal power sharing
is the best way to realise one important principle of democracy, namely local
self-government. Constitutional status for local government has helped to
deepen democracy.
It has increased women’s
representation and voice in democracy.
Federal power sharing has
led to formation of linguistic states which has actually made the country more
united. It has also made administration easier.
It reduces the power of the
Central government and gives power to regional governments.
(a) 21
(b) 22
(c) 23
(d) 25
(a) Uttarakhand
(b) Madhya Pradesh
(c) J & K
(d) Nagaland7. Which among the following are examples of ‘Coming
together federations’?
(a) India, Spain and Belgium
(b) India, USA and Spain
(c) USA, Switzerland and Australia
(d) Belgium and Sri Lanka8. In India’s federal system, the state governments
have the power to legislate on all those subjects which are included in the:
(a) Union list
(b) State list
(c) Concurrent list
(d) Residuary subjects9. The Constitution of India
(a) divided powers
between centre and states in three lists.
(b) divided powers between centre and states in two lists.
(c) listed the powers of the states and left the undefined powers to the state.
(d) Specified the pow ers of the states and left the residuary powers with the
centre.10. In case of a clash between the laws made by the
centre and a state on a subject in the concurrent list:
(a) the state law
prevails.
(b) the central law prevails.
(c) both the laws prevail within their respective jurisdictions.
(d) the Supreme Court has to intervene to decide.11. What is the third tier of government known as?
(a) Village Panchayats
(b) State government
(c) Local self-government
(d) Zila Parishad12. What is true regarding sources of revenue in a
federal system?
(a) States have no
financial powers or independent sources of revenue.
(b) States are dependent on revenue or funds on the central government.
(c) Sources of revenue for each level of government are clearly specified to
ensure its financial autonomy.
(d) States have no financial autonomy.13. Which of the following is incorrect regarding a
unitary government?
(a) There is either
only one level of government or the sub-units are subordinate to the central
government.
(b) The central government can pass on orders to the provincial government.
(c) A state government is conservable to central government.
(d) The powers of state governments are guaranteed by the Constitution.14. What are the kinds of routes through which
federations have been formed?
(a) One route involves
independent states coming together on their own to form a bigger unit
(b) The second route is where a large country decides to divide its powers
between the states and the national government
(c) Both a and b
(d) None of these15. Which period saw the rise of regional political
parties in many states of the country?
(a) Period after 1990
(b) Period after 2000
(c) Period after 1980
(d) Period after 197016. Which language is recognised as the national
language by the Constitution of India?
(a) Hindi
(b) English
(c) Tamil
(d) None of these17. Which state of India enjoys a special status and
has its own Constitution?
(a) Bihar
(b) Uttar Pradesh
(c) Kerala
(d) Jammu and Kashmir18. Which of the following subjects is not included in
the Union list?
(a) Defence
(b) Foreign affairs
(c) Police
(d) Banking19.
Which of the following is not an example of
‘holding together’ federations?
(a) India
(b) Spain
(c) Belgium
(d) Switzerland20.
Which level of government in India has the power to
legislate on the ‘residuary’ subjects?
(a) Union government
(b) State government
(c) Local self-government
(d) Both a and b
Answers
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
B
d
d
A
b
c
c
b
a
b
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
C
c
d
C
a
B
d
c
d
a
1. Which state in India has its own
Constitution? (2012)
Answer: Jammu and Kashmir
2.What is Rural local self government
popularly known as? (2013)
Answer: Panchayati Raj
3.Which local body has a ‘Mayor’ as its
head? (2014)
Answer: Head of Municipal Corporation is a Mayor.
4. What other factors besides politics keep
the federations united? (2015)
Answer: Besides politics, other factors which keep the federations united
are culture, ideology and history. Culture of trust, cooperation, mutual
respect and restraint has also helped in the smooth functioning of nations.
5. What was the main objective of the
Constitutional Amendment made in 1992 in India? (2015)
Answer: The main objective of the Constitutional Amendment in 1992 was to
strengthen the three-tier system of governance, i.e., make the Panchayati Raj
Institution and the urban local bodies more powerful and effective.
6. What status has been given to the
‘Hindi’ language by the Constitution of India?
Answer: Hindi has been given the status of ‘Official language’ by the
Constitution of India.
7. Much of the official work in Indian States
is done in which language? (2014)
Answer: Much of the official work in Indian States
is done in the official language of the concerned state.
8. What is 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. This
vertical division of power among different levels of governments is referred to
as federalism.
9. Name the subject list from which both
the Union and the State governments can make laws?
Answer: Concurrent List
10. Explain the
vertical division of power by giving examples from India. (2013)
Answer: When power is shared among governments at
different levels, i.e., the Union or the Central Government, the State
Government and the Municipality and Panchayat at the lower level. This division
of power involving higher and lower levels of government is called the vertical
division of power.
Vertical division of power in India:
The Constitution declares India
as a Union of States. Although the word ‘Federation’ is not used, the Indian
Union is based on the principles of federation. The Constitution originally
provided for a two-tier system of government, the Union Government or the
Central Government representing Union of India and the State Governments.
A third-tier of federation
was added in the form of Panchayats and Municipalities. As in any federation,
these different tiers enjoy separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provides
for a three-fold distribution of legislative powers between the Union
Government and State Government. It contains three lists:
Union List (97 Subjects)
State List (66 Subjects)
Concurrent List (47
Subjects)
10. Why is decentralisation favoured in democracy?
Identify any two reasons.
Answer: Five advantages of decentralisation of
power:
When power is taken away
from Central and State Governments and given to local governments, it is called
decentralisation. The basic idea behind decentralisation is that there are a
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.
The need for
decentralisation was recognised in our Constitution. A major step towards
decentralisation was taken in 1992. The Constitution was amended to make the
third tier of democracy more powerful and effective.
12. India comes under which type of federation
and why? (2014)
Answer: 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. 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.
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 & Kashmir.
13. State two agreements through which
federations have been formed. Give an example of each.
Answer: (i) ‘Coming together’ federations—This agreement induces independent
states coming together on their own to form a bigger unit, so that by pooling
sovereignty and retaining identity they can increase their security.
Examples are: USA, Switzerland and Australia. All the constituent states have
equal power and are strong vis-a-vis the federal government.
(ii) ‘Holding together’
federations — In this agreement, a large country decides to divide its power
between the constituent States and the national government. The Central
Governments tend to be more powerful vis-a-vis the states. Often different
constituent units of the federation have unequal powers. Some units are granted
special powers, for example, India granted special powers to Jammu & Kashmir.
Other examples are Spain and Belgium.
14. Which five provisions of the
constitutional amendment of 1992 really strengthened the third tier of
democracy in India? Explain. (2015, 2013, 2012)
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation and strengthening of third tier
taken in 1992 were:
1.
Now it is
constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government
bodies.
2.
Seats are
reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other
backward classes (OBCs).
3.
Atleast
one-third of all positions and seats are reserved for women.
4.
An independent
institution called the State Election Commission was created to conduct
Panchayat and Municipal elections.
5.
The State
Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
15. Why has federalism succeeded in India?
Which are the policies adopted by India that have ensured it? Explain.
Answer: Reasons for success of federalism in India are:
1.
Clearly laid
out Constitutional Provisions providing a three-fold distribution of powers in
the three lists—Union List, State List and Concurrent List—between the Union
Government and State Governments.
2.
The nature of
democratic politics in our country which ensures that the spirit of federalism,
respect for diversity and desire for living together became a shared ideal.
3.
The creation of
linguistic states. Boundaries of several old states of India were changed in
order to create new states. This was done to ensure that people who spoke the
same language lived in the same state. Later some states were created to
recognise differences based on culture, ethnicity or geography.
For example: Nagaland, Uttrakhand, Jharkhand, Telangana, etc.
4.
Restricting
Centre-State relations. The constitutional arrangements for sharing power work
depending on how the ruling parties and leaders follow these arrangements. For
a long time, the same party ruled both at the Centre and in most of states. Post-1990
saw the rise of regional parties. Since no single party got a clear majority in
the Lok Sabha, the national parties had to enter into an alliance which led to
a new culture of power sharing and respect for autonomy of State Governments.
16. Explain any five features of federalism.
(2015)
Answer: Features of federalism:
1.
There are two
or more levels of government.
2.
Different
levels of government govern the same citizens, where each level has its own
jurisdiction in specific matters of legislation, taxation and administration.
3.
Existence and
authority of each level of government is constitutionally governed.
4.
The fundamental
provisions of the Constitution cannot be unilaterally changed. Such changes
require the consent of both the levels of government.
5.
Courts have the
power to interpret the Constitution and powers of the different levels of
government. The highest court acts as the umpire if any dispute arises between
different levels of governments.
6.
Sources of
revenue for each level of government are specified to ensure its financial
autonomy.
7.
Federal system
has dual objectives. To safeguard and promote unity of the country, and to
accommodate regional diversity.
17. Describe the three forms of power sharing
among different organs of government in India. (2014)
Answer: The Constitution declared India as a Union of States based on the
principles of federalism. The Constitution originally provided for a two-tier
system of government, the Union or the Central Government representing Union of
India and the State Governments. Later, a third tier was added in the form of
Panchayats and Municipalities.
As in any federation, these
different tiers enjoyed separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provided a
three-fold distribution of legislative powers:
1.
Union List
includes subjects of national importance, i.e., defence of the country, foreign
affairs, banking, communications and currency.
2.
State List
contains subjects of state and local importance, i.e., police, trade, commerce,
agriculture and irrigation.
3.
Concurrent List
includes subjects of common interest to both the Union Government as well as
the State Governments, i.e., education, forests, trade unions, marriages,
adoption and succession.
In case of dispute, law made by the Union Government shall prevail.
4.
Residuary—Subjects
which do not fall in any of the three lists, i.e., computer software, etc.
Union Government has the power to legislate such subjects.
As India is an example of
‘holding together’ federation, all states in the Indian Union do not have
identical powers. Some states enjoy special status such as Jammu & Kashmir.
There are some states too small to become independent like the Union
Territories of Chandigarh and Lakshadweep.
This sharing of power
between the Union Government and State Governments is basic to the structure of
the Constitution. Any change to it, has to be passed by both the Houses of the
Parliament with at least two-third majority.
The judiciary plays an
important role in the implementation of constitutional procedures. In case of
any dispute about division of powers, the High Courts and the Supreme Court
make a decision.
18. Describe in brief the language policy of
India?
Answer: Our Constitution did not give the status of national language to any
one language.
1.
The formation
of linguistic states united the country and made administration easier.
2.
The leaders of
our country adopted a very cautious attitude in spreading the use of Hindi.
Hindi was identified as official language.
3.
The banning of
use of English for official purposes in 1965 took a violent form in Tamil Nadu.
The Central Government responded by agreeing to continue the use of English
along with Hindi for official purposes.
4.
Promotion of
Hindi is an official policy of the Government of India but it does not impose
Hindi on states where people speak a different language.
5.
Besides Hindi,
there are 21 other languages recognised as scheduled languages by the
Constitution.
6.
This
flexibility shown by Indian leaders helped our country avoid the situation that
Sri Lanka finds itself in.
19. What were the major steps taken to make
decentralisation more effective?
Or
What amendments were made in the Constitution in order to make the third tier
of democracy (Local Government) more powerful and effective?
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation taken
in 1992 are:
1.
Now it is
constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government bodies.
2.
Seats are
reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other
backward classes (OBCs).
3.
Atleast
one-third of all positions are reserved for women.
4.
The State
Election Commission was created to conduct Panchayat and Municipal elections.
5.
The State
Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
20. Explain the structure of the new Panchayati Raj
institutions, both in rural and urban areas.
Answer: Rural Local Government is known by the name of Panachayati Raj/
Democratic decentralization.
Each village or group of
villages has a Gram Panchayat.
Panch, President or
Sarpanch are directly elected by all the adult population of the village and is
the decision-making body.
The Panchayat works under
the supervision of Gram Sabha, with all the voters as its members.
The local structure goes up
to the district level—a group of Gram Panchayats form a Panchayat Samiti or
Block or Mandal.
All the Panchayat Samitis
or Mandals together constitute the Zilla Parishad which consists of elected
members.
Lok Sabha members, Local
MLAs and officers are also members of the Zilla Parishad.
Its Chairperson is the
political head of the Parishad.
Urban areas local bodies.
Municipalities are set up
in towns.
Big cities are constituted
into Municipal Corporations.
Both are controlled by
elected bodies consisting of people’s representatives.
Municipal chairperson is
the political head of the Municipality.
The head of Municipal Corporation is an officer called the Mayor.
21. How is federal power sharing more effective today
than in the early years? Explain.
Answer: Federal power sharing is more effective because of the nature of
democratic politics in India. It has ensured that the spirit of federalism,
respect for diversity and desire for living together have become a shared ideal
in our country.
Federal power sharing has
helped to inculcate a habit of democratic participation. Federal power sharing
is the best way to realise one important principle of democracy, namely local
self-government. Constitutional status for local government has helped to
deepen democracy.
It has increased women’s
representation and voice in democracy.
Federal power sharing has
led to formation of linguistic states which has actually made the country more
united. It has also made administration easier.
It reduces the power of the
Central government and gives power to regional governments.
(a) India, Spain and Belgium
(b) India, USA and Spain
(c) USA, Switzerland and Australia
(d) Belgium and Sri Lanka8. In India’s federal system, the state governments
have the power to legislate on all those subjects which are included in the:
(a) Union list
(b) State list
(c) Concurrent list
(d) Residuary subjects9. The Constitution of India
(a) divided powers
between centre and states in three lists.
(b) divided powers between centre and states in two lists.
(c) listed the powers of the states and left the undefined powers to the state.
(d) Specified the pow ers of the states and left the residuary powers with the
centre.10. In case of a clash between the laws made by the
centre and a state on a subject in the concurrent list:
(a) the state law
prevails.
(b) the central law prevails.
(c) both the laws prevail within their respective jurisdictions.
(d) the Supreme Court has to intervene to decide.11. What is the third tier of government known as?
(a) Village Panchayats
(b) State government
(c) Local self-government
(d) Zila Parishad12. What is true regarding sources of revenue in a
federal system?
(a) States have no
financial powers or independent sources of revenue.
(b) States are dependent on revenue or funds on the central government.
(c) Sources of revenue for each level of government are clearly specified to
ensure its financial autonomy.
(d) States have no financial autonomy.13. Which of the following is incorrect regarding a
unitary government?
(a) There is either
only one level of government or the sub-units are subordinate to the central
government.
(b) The central government can pass on orders to the provincial government.
(c) A state government is conservable to central government.
(d) The powers of state governments are guaranteed by the Constitution.14. What are the kinds of routes through which
federations have been formed?
(a) One route involves
independent states coming together on their own to form a bigger unit
(b) The second route is where a large country decides to divide its powers
between the states and the national government
(c) Both a and b
(d) None of these15. Which period saw the rise of regional political
parties in many states of the country?
(a) Period after 1990
(b) Period after 2000
(c) Period after 1980
(d) Period after 197016. Which language is recognised as the national
language by the Constitution of India?
(a) Hindi
(b) English
(c) Tamil
(d) None of these17. Which state of India enjoys a special status and
has its own Constitution?
(a) Bihar
(b) Uttar Pradesh
(c) Kerala
(d) Jammu and Kashmir18. Which of the following subjects is not included in
the Union list?
(a) Defence
(b) Foreign affairs
(c) Police
(d) Banking19.
Which of the following is not an example of
‘holding together’ federations?
(a) India
(b) Spain
(c) Belgium
(d) Switzerland20.
Which level of government in India has the power to
legislate on the ‘residuary’ subjects?
(a) Union government
(b) State government
(c) Local self-government
(d) Both a and b
Answers
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
B
d
d
A
b
c
c
b
a
b
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
C
c
d
C
a
B
d
c
d
a
1. Which state in India has its own
Constitution? (2012)
Answer: Jammu and Kashmir
2.What is Rural local self government
popularly known as? (2013)
Answer: Panchayati Raj
3.Which local body has a ‘Mayor’ as its
head? (2014)
Answer: Head of Municipal Corporation is a Mayor.
4. What other factors besides politics keep
the federations united? (2015)
Answer: Besides politics, other factors which keep the federations united
are culture, ideology and history. Culture of trust, cooperation, mutual
respect and restraint has also helped in the smooth functioning of nations.
5. What was the main objective of the
Constitutional Amendment made in 1992 in India? (2015)
Answer: The main objective of the Constitutional Amendment in 1992 was to
strengthen the three-tier system of governance, i.e., make the Panchayati Raj
Institution and the urban local bodies more powerful and effective.
6. What status has been given to the
‘Hindi’ language by the Constitution of India?
Answer: Hindi has been given the status of ‘Official language’ by the
Constitution of India.
7. Much of the official work in Indian States
is done in which language? (2014)
Answer: Much of the official work in Indian States
is done in the official language of the concerned state.
8. What is 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. This
vertical division of power among different levels of governments is referred to
as federalism.
9. Name the subject list from which both
the Union and the State governments can make laws?
Answer: Concurrent List
10. Explain the
vertical division of power by giving examples from India. (2013)
Answer: When power is shared among governments at
different levels, i.e., the Union or the Central Government, the State
Government and the Municipality and Panchayat at the lower level. This division
of power involving higher and lower levels of government is called the vertical
division of power.
Vertical division of power in India:
The Constitution declares India
as a Union of States. Although the word ‘Federation’ is not used, the Indian
Union is based on the principles of federation. The Constitution originally
provided for a two-tier system of government, the Union Government or the
Central Government representing Union of India and the State Governments.
A third-tier of federation
was added in the form of Panchayats and Municipalities. As in any federation,
these different tiers enjoy separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provides
for a three-fold distribution of legislative powers between the Union
Government and State Government. It contains three lists:
Union List (97 Subjects)
State List (66 Subjects)
Concurrent List (47
Subjects)
10. Why is decentralisation favoured in democracy?
Identify any two reasons.
Answer: Five advantages of decentralisation of
power:
When power is taken away
from Central and State Governments and given to local governments, it is called
decentralisation. The basic idea behind decentralisation is that there are a
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.
The need for
decentralisation was recognised in our Constitution. A major step towards
decentralisation was taken in 1992. The Constitution was amended to make the
third tier of democracy more powerful and effective.
12. India comes under which type of federation
and why? (2014)
Answer: 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. 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.
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 & Kashmir.
13. State two agreements through which
federations have been formed. Give an example of each.
Answer: (i) ‘Coming together’ federations—This agreement induces independent
states coming together on their own to form a bigger unit, so that by pooling
sovereignty and retaining identity they can increase their security.
Examples are: USA, Switzerland and Australia. All the constituent states have
equal power and are strong vis-a-vis the federal government.
(ii) ‘Holding together’
federations — In this agreement, a large country decides to divide its power
between the constituent States and the national government. The Central
Governments tend to be more powerful vis-a-vis the states. Often different
constituent units of the federation have unequal powers. Some units are granted
special powers, for example, India granted special powers to Jammu & Kashmir.
Other examples are Spain and Belgium.
14. Which five provisions of the
constitutional amendment of 1992 really strengthened the third tier of
democracy in India? Explain. (2015, 2013, 2012)
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation and strengthening of third tier
taken in 1992 were:
1.
Now it is
constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government
bodies.
2.
Seats are
reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other
backward classes (OBCs).
3.
Atleast
one-third of all positions and seats are reserved for women.
4.
An independent
institution called the State Election Commission was created to conduct
Panchayat and Municipal elections.
5.
The State
Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
15. Why has federalism succeeded in India?
Which are the policies adopted by India that have ensured it? Explain.
Answer: Reasons for success of federalism in India are:
1.
Clearly laid
out Constitutional Provisions providing a three-fold distribution of powers in
the three lists—Union List, State List and Concurrent List—between the Union
Government and State Governments.
2.
The nature of
democratic politics in our country which ensures that the spirit of federalism,
respect for diversity and desire for living together became a shared ideal.
3.
The creation of
linguistic states. Boundaries of several old states of India were changed in
order to create new states. This was done to ensure that people who spoke the
same language lived in the same state. Later some states were created to
recognise differences based on culture, ethnicity or geography.
For example: Nagaland, Uttrakhand, Jharkhand, Telangana, etc.
4.
Restricting
Centre-State relations. The constitutional arrangements for sharing power work
depending on how the ruling parties and leaders follow these arrangements. For
a long time, the same party ruled both at the Centre and in most of states. Post-1990
saw the rise of regional parties. Since no single party got a clear majority in
the Lok Sabha, the national parties had to enter into an alliance which led to
a new culture of power sharing and respect for autonomy of State Governments.
16. Explain any five features of federalism.
(2015)
Answer: Features of federalism:
1.
There are two
or more levels of government.
2.
Different
levels of government govern the same citizens, where each level has its own
jurisdiction in specific matters of legislation, taxation and administration.
3.
Existence and
authority of each level of government is constitutionally governed.
4.
The fundamental
provisions of the Constitution cannot be unilaterally changed. Such changes
require the consent of both the levels of government.
5.
Courts have the
power to interpret the Constitution and powers of the different levels of
government. The highest court acts as the umpire if any dispute arises between
different levels of governments.
6.
Sources of
revenue for each level of government are specified to ensure its financial
autonomy.
7.
Federal system
has dual objectives. To safeguard and promote unity of the country, and to
accommodate regional diversity.
17. Describe the three forms of power sharing
among different organs of government in India. (2014)
Answer: The Constitution declared India as a Union of States based on the
principles of federalism. The Constitution originally provided for a two-tier
system of government, the Union or the Central Government representing Union of
India and the State Governments. Later, a third tier was added in the form of
Panchayats and Municipalities.
As in any federation, these
different tiers enjoyed separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provided a
three-fold distribution of legislative powers:
1.
Union List
includes subjects of national importance, i.e., defence of the country, foreign
affairs, banking, communications and currency.
2.
State List
contains subjects of state and local importance, i.e., police, trade, commerce,
agriculture and irrigation.
3.
Concurrent List
includes subjects of common interest to both the Union Government as well as
the State Governments, i.e., education, forests, trade unions, marriages,
adoption and succession.
In case of dispute, law made by the Union Government shall prevail.
4.
Residuary—Subjects
which do not fall in any of the three lists, i.e., computer software, etc.
Union Government has the power to legislate such subjects.
As India is an example of
‘holding together’ federation, all states in the Indian Union do not have
identical powers. Some states enjoy special status such as Jammu & Kashmir.
There are some states too small to become independent like the Union
Territories of Chandigarh and Lakshadweep.
This sharing of power
between the Union Government and State Governments is basic to the structure of
the Constitution. Any change to it, has to be passed by both the Houses of the
Parliament with at least two-third majority.
The judiciary plays an
important role in the implementation of constitutional procedures. In case of
any dispute about division of powers, the High Courts and the Supreme Court
make a decision.
18. Describe in brief the language policy of
India?
Answer: Our Constitution did not give the status of national language to any
one language.
1.
The formation
of linguistic states united the country and made administration easier.
2.
The leaders of
our country adopted a very cautious attitude in spreading the use of Hindi.
Hindi was identified as official language.
3.
The banning of
use of English for official purposes in 1965 took a violent form in Tamil Nadu.
The Central Government responded by agreeing to continue the use of English
along with Hindi for official purposes.
4.
Promotion of
Hindi is an official policy of the Government of India but it does not impose
Hindi on states where people speak a different language.
5.
Besides Hindi,
there are 21 other languages recognised as scheduled languages by the
Constitution.
6.
This
flexibility shown by Indian leaders helped our country avoid the situation that
Sri Lanka finds itself in.
19. What were the major steps taken to make
decentralisation more effective?
Or
What amendments were made in the Constitution in order to make the third tier
of democracy (Local Government) more powerful and effective?
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation taken
in 1992 are:
1.
Now it is
constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government bodies.
2.
Seats are
reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other
backward classes (OBCs).
3.
Atleast
one-third of all positions are reserved for women.
4.
The State
Election Commission was created to conduct Panchayat and Municipal elections.
5.
The State
Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
20. Explain the structure of the new Panchayati Raj
institutions, both in rural and urban areas.
Answer: Rural Local Government is known by the name of Panachayati Raj/
Democratic decentralization.
Each village or group of
villages has a Gram Panchayat.
Panch, President or
Sarpanch are directly elected by all the adult population of the village and is
the decision-making body.
The Panchayat works under
the supervision of Gram Sabha, with all the voters as its members.
The local structure goes up
to the district level—a group of Gram Panchayats form a Panchayat Samiti or
Block or Mandal.
All the Panchayat Samitis
or Mandals together constitute the Zilla Parishad which consists of elected
members.
Lok Sabha members, Local
MLAs and officers are also members of the Zilla Parishad.
Its Chairperson is the
political head of the Parishad.
Urban areas local bodies.
Municipalities are set up
in towns.
Big cities are constituted
into Municipal Corporations.
Both are controlled by
elected bodies consisting of people’s representatives.
Municipal chairperson is
the political head of the Municipality.
The head of Municipal Corporation is an officer called the Mayor.
21. How is federal power sharing more effective today
than in the early years? Explain.
Answer: Federal power sharing is more effective because of the nature of
democratic politics in India. It has ensured that the spirit of federalism,
respect for diversity and desire for living together have become a shared ideal
in our country.
Federal power sharing has
helped to inculcate a habit of democratic participation. Federal power sharing
is the best way to realise one important principle of democracy, namely local
self-government. Constitutional status for local government has helped to
deepen democracy.
It has increased women’s
representation and voice in democracy.
Federal power sharing has
led to formation of linguistic states which has actually made the country more
united. It has also made administration easier.
It reduces the power of the
Central government and gives power to regional governments.
(a) Union list
(b) State list
(c) Concurrent list
(d) Residuary subjects9. The Constitution of India
(a) divided powers
between centre and states in three lists.
(b) divided powers between centre and states in two lists.
(c) listed the powers of the states and left the undefined powers to the state.
(d) Specified the pow ers of the states and left the residuary powers with the
centre.10. In case of a clash between the laws made by the
centre and a state on a subject in the concurrent list:
(a) the state law
prevails.
(b) the central law prevails.
(c) both the laws prevail within their respective jurisdictions.
(d) the Supreme Court has to intervene to decide.11. What is the third tier of government known as?
(a) Village Panchayats
(b) State government
(c) Local self-government
(d) Zila Parishad12. What is true regarding sources of revenue in a
federal system?
(a) States have no
financial powers or independent sources of revenue.
(b) States are dependent on revenue or funds on the central government.
(c) Sources of revenue for each level of government are clearly specified to
ensure its financial autonomy.
(d) States have no financial autonomy.13. Which of the following is incorrect regarding a
unitary government?
(a) There is either
only one level of government or the sub-units are subordinate to the central
government.
(b) The central government can pass on orders to the provincial government.
(c) A state government is conservable to central government.
(d) The powers of state governments are guaranteed by the Constitution.14. What are the kinds of routes through which
federations have been formed?
(a) One route involves
independent states coming together on their own to form a bigger unit
(b) The second route is where a large country decides to divide its powers
between the states and the national government
(c) Both a and b
(d) None of these15. Which period saw the rise of regional political
parties in many states of the country?
(a) Period after 1990
(b) Period after 2000
(c) Period after 1980
(d) Period after 197016. Which language is recognised as the national
language by the Constitution of India?
(a) Hindi
(b) English
(c) Tamil
(d) None of these17. Which state of India enjoys a special status and
has its own Constitution?
(a) Bihar
(b) Uttar Pradesh
(c) Kerala
(d) Jammu and Kashmir18. Which of the following subjects is not included in
the Union list?
(a) Defence
(b) Foreign affairs
(c) Police
(d) Banking19.
Which of the following is not an example of
‘holding together’ federations?
(a) India
(b) Spain
(c) Belgium
(d) Switzerland20.
Which level of government in India has the power to
legislate on the ‘residuary’ subjects?
(a) Union government
(b) State government
(c) Local self-government
(d) Both a and b
Answers
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
B
d
d
A
b
c
c
b
a
b
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
C
c
d
C
a
B
d
c
d
a
1. Which state in India has its own
Constitution? (2012)
Answer: Jammu and Kashmir
2.What is Rural local self government
popularly known as? (2013)
Answer: Panchayati Raj
3.Which local body has a ‘Mayor’ as its
head? (2014)
Answer: Head of Municipal Corporation is a Mayor.
4. What other factors besides politics keep
the federations united? (2015)
Answer: Besides politics, other factors which keep the federations united
are culture, ideology and history. Culture of trust, cooperation, mutual
respect and restraint has also helped in the smooth functioning of nations.
5. What was the main objective of the
Constitutional Amendment made in 1992 in India? (2015)
Answer: The main objective of the Constitutional Amendment in 1992 was to
strengthen the three-tier system of governance, i.e., make the Panchayati Raj
Institution and the urban local bodies more powerful and effective.
6. What status has been given to the
‘Hindi’ language by the Constitution of India?
Answer: Hindi has been given the status of ‘Official language’ by the
Constitution of India.
7. Much of the official work in Indian States
is done in which language? (2014)
Answer: Much of the official work in Indian States
is done in the official language of the concerned state.
8. What is 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. This
vertical division of power among different levels of governments is referred to
as federalism.
9. Name the subject list from which both
the Union and the State governments can make laws?
Answer: Concurrent List
10. Explain the
vertical division of power by giving examples from India. (2013)
Answer: When power is shared among governments at
different levels, i.e., the Union or the Central Government, the State
Government and the Municipality and Panchayat at the lower level. This division
of power involving higher and lower levels of government is called the vertical
division of power.
Vertical division of power in India:
The Constitution declares India
as a Union of States. Although the word ‘Federation’ is not used, the Indian
Union is based on the principles of federation. The Constitution originally
provided for a two-tier system of government, the Union Government or the
Central Government representing Union of India and the State Governments.
A third-tier of federation
was added in the form of Panchayats and Municipalities. As in any federation,
these different tiers enjoy separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provides
for a three-fold distribution of legislative powers between the Union
Government and State Government. It contains three lists:
Union List (97 Subjects)
State List (66 Subjects)
Concurrent List (47
Subjects)
10. Why is decentralisation favoured in democracy?
Identify any two reasons.
Answer: Five advantages of decentralisation of
power:
When power is taken away
from Central and State Governments and given to local governments, it is called
decentralisation. The basic idea behind decentralisation is that there are a
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.
The need for
decentralisation was recognised in our Constitution. A major step towards
decentralisation was taken in 1992. The Constitution was amended to make the
third tier of democracy more powerful and effective.
12. India comes under which type of federation
and why? (2014)
Answer: 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. 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.
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 & Kashmir.
13. State two agreements through which
federations have been formed. Give an example of each.
Answer: (i) ‘Coming together’ federations—This agreement induces independent
states coming together on their own to form a bigger unit, so that by pooling
sovereignty and retaining identity they can increase their security.
Examples are: USA, Switzerland and Australia. All the constituent states have
equal power and are strong vis-a-vis the federal government.
(ii) ‘Holding together’
federations — In this agreement, a large country decides to divide its power
between the constituent States and the national government. The Central
Governments tend to be more powerful vis-a-vis the states. Often different
constituent units of the federation have unequal powers. Some units are granted
special powers, for example, India granted special powers to Jammu & Kashmir.
Other examples are Spain and Belgium.
14. Which five provisions of the
constitutional amendment of 1992 really strengthened the third tier of
democracy in India? Explain. (2015, 2013, 2012)
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation and strengthening of third tier
taken in 1992 were:
1.
Now it is
constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government
bodies.
2.
Seats are
reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other
backward classes (OBCs).
3.
Atleast
one-third of all positions and seats are reserved for women.
4.
An independent
institution called the State Election Commission was created to conduct
Panchayat and Municipal elections.
5.
The State
Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
15. Why has federalism succeeded in India?
Which are the policies adopted by India that have ensured it? Explain.
Answer: Reasons for success of federalism in India are:
1.
Clearly laid
out Constitutional Provisions providing a three-fold distribution of powers in
the three lists—Union List, State List and Concurrent List—between the Union
Government and State Governments.
2.
The nature of
democratic politics in our country which ensures that the spirit of federalism,
respect for diversity and desire for living together became a shared ideal.
3.
The creation of
linguistic states. Boundaries of several old states of India were changed in
order to create new states. This was done to ensure that people who spoke the
same language lived in the same state. Later some states were created to
recognise differences based on culture, ethnicity or geography.
For example: Nagaland, Uttrakhand, Jharkhand, Telangana, etc.
4.
Restricting
Centre-State relations. The constitutional arrangements for sharing power work
depending on how the ruling parties and leaders follow these arrangements. For
a long time, the same party ruled both at the Centre and in most of states. Post-1990
saw the rise of regional parties. Since no single party got a clear majority in
the Lok Sabha, the national parties had to enter into an alliance which led to
a new culture of power sharing and respect for autonomy of State Governments.
16. Explain any five features of federalism.
(2015)
Answer: Features of federalism:
1.
There are two
or more levels of government.
2.
Different
levels of government govern the same citizens, where each level has its own
jurisdiction in specific matters of legislation, taxation and administration.
3.
Existence and
authority of each level of government is constitutionally governed.
4.
The fundamental
provisions of the Constitution cannot be unilaterally changed. Such changes
require the consent of both the levels of government.
5.
Courts have the
power to interpret the Constitution and powers of the different levels of
government. The highest court acts as the umpire if any dispute arises between
different levels of governments.
6.
Sources of
revenue for each level of government are specified to ensure its financial
autonomy.
7.
Federal system
has dual objectives. To safeguard and promote unity of the country, and to
accommodate regional diversity.
17. Describe the three forms of power sharing
among different organs of government in India. (2014)
Answer: The Constitution declared India as a Union of States based on the
principles of federalism. The Constitution originally provided for a two-tier
system of government, the Union or the Central Government representing Union of
India and the State Governments. Later, a third tier was added in the form of
Panchayats and Municipalities.
As in any federation, these
different tiers enjoyed separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provided a
three-fold distribution of legislative powers:
1.
Union List
includes subjects of national importance, i.e., defence of the country, foreign
affairs, banking, communications and currency.
2.
State List
contains subjects of state and local importance, i.e., police, trade, commerce,
agriculture and irrigation.
3.
Concurrent List
includes subjects of common interest to both the Union Government as well as
the State Governments, i.e., education, forests, trade unions, marriages,
adoption and succession.
In case of dispute, law made by the Union Government shall prevail.
4.
Residuary—Subjects
which do not fall in any of the three lists, i.e., computer software, etc.
Union Government has the power to legislate such subjects.
As India is an example of
‘holding together’ federation, all states in the Indian Union do not have
identical powers. Some states enjoy special status such as Jammu & Kashmir.
There are some states too small to become independent like the Union
Territories of Chandigarh and Lakshadweep.
This sharing of power
between the Union Government and State Governments is basic to the structure of
the Constitution. Any change to it, has to be passed by both the Houses of the
Parliament with at least two-third majority.
The judiciary plays an
important role in the implementation of constitutional procedures. In case of
any dispute about division of powers, the High Courts and the Supreme Court
make a decision.
18. Describe in brief the language policy of
India?
Answer: Our Constitution did not give the status of national language to any
one language.
1.
The formation
of linguistic states united the country and made administration easier.
2.
The leaders of
our country adopted a very cautious attitude in spreading the use of Hindi.
Hindi was identified as official language.
3.
The banning of
use of English for official purposes in 1965 took a violent form in Tamil Nadu.
The Central Government responded by agreeing to continue the use of English
along with Hindi for official purposes.
4.
Promotion of
Hindi is an official policy of the Government of India but it does not impose
Hindi on states where people speak a different language.
5.
Besides Hindi,
there are 21 other languages recognised as scheduled languages by the
Constitution.
6.
This
flexibility shown by Indian leaders helped our country avoid the situation that
Sri Lanka finds itself in.
19. What were the major steps taken to make
decentralisation more effective?
Or
What amendments were made in the Constitution in order to make the third tier
of democracy (Local Government) more powerful and effective?
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation taken
in 1992 are:
1.
Now it is
constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government bodies.
2.
Seats are
reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other
backward classes (OBCs).
3.
Atleast
one-third of all positions are reserved for women.
4.
The State
Election Commission was created to conduct Panchayat and Municipal elections.
5.
The State
Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
20. Explain the structure of the new Panchayati Raj
institutions, both in rural and urban areas.
Answer: Rural Local Government is known by the name of Panachayati Raj/
Democratic decentralization.
Each village or group of
villages has a Gram Panchayat.
Panch, President or
Sarpanch are directly elected by all the adult population of the village and is
the decision-making body.
The Panchayat works under
the supervision of Gram Sabha, with all the voters as its members.
The local structure goes up
to the district level—a group of Gram Panchayats form a Panchayat Samiti or
Block or Mandal.
All the Panchayat Samitis
or Mandals together constitute the Zilla Parishad which consists of elected
members.
Lok Sabha members, Local
MLAs and officers are also members of the Zilla Parishad.
Its Chairperson is the
political head of the Parishad.
Urban areas local bodies.
Municipalities are set up
in towns.
Big cities are constituted
into Municipal Corporations.
Both are controlled by
elected bodies consisting of people’s representatives.
Municipal chairperson is
the political head of the Municipality.
The head of Municipal Corporation is an officer called the Mayor.
21. How is federal power sharing more effective today
than in the early years? Explain.
Answer: Federal power sharing is more effective because of the nature of
democratic politics in India. It has ensured that the spirit of federalism,
respect for diversity and desire for living together have become a shared ideal
in our country.
Federal power sharing has
helped to inculcate a habit of democratic participation. Federal power sharing
is the best way to realise one important principle of democracy, namely local
self-government. Constitutional status for local government has helped to
deepen democracy.
It has increased women’s
representation and voice in democracy.
Federal power sharing has
led to formation of linguistic states which has actually made the country more
united. It has also made administration easier.
It reduces the power of the
Central government and gives power to regional governments.
(a) divided powers
between centre and states in three lists.
(b) divided powers between centre and states in two lists.
(c) listed the powers of the states and left the undefined powers to the state.
(d) Specified the pow ers of the states and left the residuary powers with the
centre.10. In case of a clash between the laws made by the
centre and a state on a subject in the concurrent list:
(a) the state law
prevails.
(b) the central law prevails.
(c) both the laws prevail within their respective jurisdictions.
(d) the Supreme Court has to intervene to decide.11. What is the third tier of government known as?
(a) Village Panchayats
(b) State government
(c) Local self-government
(d) Zila Parishad12. What is true regarding sources of revenue in a
federal system?
(a) States have no
financial powers or independent sources of revenue.
(b) States are dependent on revenue or funds on the central government.
(c) Sources of revenue for each level of government are clearly specified to
ensure its financial autonomy.
(d) States have no financial autonomy.13. Which of the following is incorrect regarding a
unitary government?
(a) There is either
only one level of government or the sub-units are subordinate to the central
government.
(b) The central government can pass on orders to the provincial government.
(c) A state government is conservable to central government.
(d) The powers of state governments are guaranteed by the Constitution.14. What are the kinds of routes through which
federations have been formed?
(a) One route involves
independent states coming together on their own to form a bigger unit
(b) The second route is where a large country decides to divide its powers
between the states and the national government
(c) Both a and b
(d) None of these15. Which period saw the rise of regional political
parties in many states of the country?
(a) Period after 1990
(b) Period after 2000
(c) Period after 1980
(d) Period after 197016. Which language is recognised as the national
language by the Constitution of India?
(a) Hindi
(b) English
(c) Tamil
(d) None of these17. Which state of India enjoys a special status and
has its own Constitution?
(a) Bihar
(b) Uttar Pradesh
(c) Kerala
(d) Jammu and Kashmir18. Which of the following subjects is not included in
the Union list?
(a) Defence
(b) Foreign affairs
(c) Police
(d) Banking19.
Which of the following is not an example of
‘holding together’ federations?
(a) India
(b) Spain
(c) Belgium
(d) Switzerland20.
Which level of government in India has the power to
legislate on the ‘residuary’ subjects?
(a) Union government
(b) State government
(c) Local self-government
(d) Both a and b
Answers
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
B
d
d
A
b
c
c
b
a
b
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
C
c
d
C
a
B
d
c
d
a
1. Which state in India has its own
Constitution? (2012)
Answer: Jammu and Kashmir
2.What is Rural local self government
popularly known as? (2013)
Answer: Panchayati Raj
3.Which local body has a ‘Mayor’ as its
head? (2014)
Answer: Head of Municipal Corporation is a Mayor.
4. What other factors besides politics keep
the federations united? (2015)
Answer: Besides politics, other factors which keep the federations united
are culture, ideology and history. Culture of trust, cooperation, mutual
respect and restraint has also helped in the smooth functioning of nations.
5. What was the main objective of the
Constitutional Amendment made in 1992 in India? (2015)
Answer: The main objective of the Constitutional Amendment in 1992 was to
strengthen the three-tier system of governance, i.e., make the Panchayati Raj
Institution and the urban local bodies more powerful and effective.
6. What status has been given to the
‘Hindi’ language by the Constitution of India?
Answer: Hindi has been given the status of ‘Official language’ by the
Constitution of India.
7. Much of the official work in Indian States
is done in which language? (2014)
Answer: Much of the official work in Indian States
is done in the official language of the concerned state.
8. What is 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. This
vertical division of power among different levels of governments is referred to
as federalism.
9. Name the subject list from which both
the Union and the State governments can make laws?
Answer: Concurrent List
10. Explain the
vertical division of power by giving examples from India. (2013)
Answer: When power is shared among governments at
different levels, i.e., the Union or the Central Government, the State
Government and the Municipality and Panchayat at the lower level. This division
of power involving higher and lower levels of government is called the vertical
division of power.
Vertical division of power in India:
The Constitution declares India
as a Union of States. Although the word ‘Federation’ is not used, the Indian
Union is based on the principles of federation. The Constitution originally
provided for a two-tier system of government, the Union Government or the
Central Government representing Union of India and the State Governments.
A third-tier of federation
was added in the form of Panchayats and Municipalities. As in any federation,
these different tiers enjoy separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provides
for a three-fold distribution of legislative powers between the Union
Government and State Government. It contains three lists:
Union List (97 Subjects)
State List (66 Subjects)
Concurrent List (47
Subjects)
10. Why is decentralisation favoured in democracy?
Identify any two reasons.
Answer: Five advantages of decentralisation of
power:
When power is taken away
from Central and State Governments and given to local governments, it is called
decentralisation. The basic idea behind decentralisation is that there are a
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.
The need for
decentralisation was recognised in our Constitution. A major step towards
decentralisation was taken in 1992. The Constitution was amended to make the
third tier of democracy more powerful and effective.
12. India comes under which type of federation
and why? (2014)
Answer: 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. 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.
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 & Kashmir.
13. State two agreements through which
federations have been formed. Give an example of each.
Answer: (i) ‘Coming together’ federations—This agreement induces independent
states coming together on their own to form a bigger unit, so that by pooling
sovereignty and retaining identity they can increase their security.
Examples are: USA, Switzerland and Australia. All the constituent states have
equal power and are strong vis-a-vis the federal government.
(ii) ‘Holding together’
federations — In this agreement, a large country decides to divide its power
between the constituent States and the national government. The Central
Governments tend to be more powerful vis-a-vis the states. Often different
constituent units of the federation have unequal powers. Some units are granted
special powers, for example, India granted special powers to Jammu & Kashmir.
Other examples are Spain and Belgium.
14. Which five provisions of the
constitutional amendment of 1992 really strengthened the third tier of
democracy in India? Explain. (2015, 2013, 2012)
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation and strengthening of third tier
taken in 1992 were:
1.
Now it is
constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government
bodies.
2.
Seats are
reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other
backward classes (OBCs).
3.
Atleast
one-third of all positions and seats are reserved for women.
4.
An independent
institution called the State Election Commission was created to conduct
Panchayat and Municipal elections.
5.
The State
Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
15. Why has federalism succeeded in India?
Which are the policies adopted by India that have ensured it? Explain.
Answer: Reasons for success of federalism in India are:
1.
Clearly laid
out Constitutional Provisions providing a three-fold distribution of powers in
the three lists—Union List, State List and Concurrent List—between the Union
Government and State Governments.
2.
The nature of
democratic politics in our country which ensures that the spirit of federalism,
respect for diversity and desire for living together became a shared ideal.
3.
The creation of
linguistic states. Boundaries of several old states of India were changed in
order to create new states. This was done to ensure that people who spoke the
same language lived in the same state. Later some states were created to
recognise differences based on culture, ethnicity or geography.
For example: Nagaland, Uttrakhand, Jharkhand, Telangana, etc.
4.
Restricting
Centre-State relations. The constitutional arrangements for sharing power work
depending on how the ruling parties and leaders follow these arrangements. For
a long time, the same party ruled both at the Centre and in most of states. Post-1990
saw the rise of regional parties. Since no single party got a clear majority in
the Lok Sabha, the national parties had to enter into an alliance which led to
a new culture of power sharing and respect for autonomy of State Governments.
16. Explain any five features of federalism.
(2015)
Answer: Features of federalism:
1.
There are two
or more levels of government.
2.
Different
levels of government govern the same citizens, where each level has its own
jurisdiction in specific matters of legislation, taxation and administration.
3.
Existence and
authority of each level of government is constitutionally governed.
4.
The fundamental
provisions of the Constitution cannot be unilaterally changed. Such changes
require the consent of both the levels of government.
5.
Courts have the
power to interpret the Constitution and powers of the different levels of
government. The highest court acts as the umpire if any dispute arises between
different levels of governments.
6.
Sources of
revenue for each level of government are specified to ensure its financial
autonomy.
7.
Federal system
has dual objectives. To safeguard and promote unity of the country, and to
accommodate regional diversity.
17. Describe the three forms of power sharing
among different organs of government in India. (2014)
Answer: The Constitution declared India as a Union of States based on the
principles of federalism. The Constitution originally provided for a two-tier
system of government, the Union or the Central Government representing Union of
India and the State Governments. Later, a third tier was added in the form of
Panchayats and Municipalities.
As in any federation, these
different tiers enjoyed separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provided a
three-fold distribution of legislative powers:
1.
Union List
includes subjects of national importance, i.e., defence of the country, foreign
affairs, banking, communications and currency.
2.
State List
contains subjects of state and local importance, i.e., police, trade, commerce,
agriculture and irrigation.
3.
Concurrent List
includes subjects of common interest to both the Union Government as well as
the State Governments, i.e., education, forests, trade unions, marriages,
adoption and succession.
In case of dispute, law made by the Union Government shall prevail.
4.
Residuary—Subjects
which do not fall in any of the three lists, i.e., computer software, etc.
Union Government has the power to legislate such subjects.
As India is an example of
‘holding together’ federation, all states in the Indian Union do not have
identical powers. Some states enjoy special status such as Jammu & Kashmir.
There are some states too small to become independent like the Union
Territories of Chandigarh and Lakshadweep.
This sharing of power
between the Union Government and State Governments is basic to the structure of
the Constitution. Any change to it, has to be passed by both the Houses of the
Parliament with at least two-third majority.
The judiciary plays an
important role in the implementation of constitutional procedures. In case of
any dispute about division of powers, the High Courts and the Supreme Court
make a decision.
18. Describe in brief the language policy of
India?
Answer: Our Constitution did not give the status of national language to any
one language.
1.
The formation
of linguistic states united the country and made administration easier.
2.
The leaders of
our country adopted a very cautious attitude in spreading the use of Hindi.
Hindi was identified as official language.
3.
The banning of
use of English for official purposes in 1965 took a violent form in Tamil Nadu.
The Central Government responded by agreeing to continue the use of English
along with Hindi for official purposes.
4.
Promotion of
Hindi is an official policy of the Government of India but it does not impose
Hindi on states where people speak a different language.
5.
Besides Hindi,
there are 21 other languages recognised as scheduled languages by the
Constitution.
6.
This
flexibility shown by Indian leaders helped our country avoid the situation that
Sri Lanka finds itself in.
19. What were the major steps taken to make
decentralisation more effective?
Or
What amendments were made in the Constitution in order to make the third tier
of democracy (Local Government) more powerful and effective?
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation taken
in 1992 are:
1.
Now it is
constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government bodies.
2.
Seats are
reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other
backward classes (OBCs).
3.
Atleast
one-third of all positions are reserved for women.
4.
The State
Election Commission was created to conduct Panchayat and Municipal elections.
5.
The State
Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
20. Explain the structure of the new Panchayati Raj
institutions, both in rural and urban areas.
Answer: Rural Local Government is known by the name of Panachayati Raj/
Democratic decentralization.
Each village or group of
villages has a Gram Panchayat.
Panch, President or
Sarpanch are directly elected by all the adult population of the village and is
the decision-making body.
The Panchayat works under
the supervision of Gram Sabha, with all the voters as its members.
The local structure goes up
to the district level—a group of Gram Panchayats form a Panchayat Samiti or
Block or Mandal.
All the Panchayat Samitis
or Mandals together constitute the Zilla Parishad which consists of elected
members.
Lok Sabha members, Local
MLAs and officers are also members of the Zilla Parishad.
Its Chairperson is the
political head of the Parishad.
Urban areas local bodies.
Municipalities are set up
in towns.
Big cities are constituted
into Municipal Corporations.
Both are controlled by
elected bodies consisting of people’s representatives.
Municipal chairperson is
the political head of the Municipality.
The head of Municipal Corporation is an officer called the Mayor.
21. How is federal power sharing more effective today
than in the early years? Explain.
Answer: Federal power sharing is more effective because of the nature of
democratic politics in India. It has ensured that the spirit of federalism,
respect for diversity and desire for living together have become a shared ideal
in our country.
Federal power sharing has
helped to inculcate a habit of democratic participation. Federal power sharing
is the best way to realise one important principle of democracy, namely local
self-government. Constitutional status for local government has helped to
deepen democracy.
It has increased women’s
representation and voice in democracy.
Federal power sharing has
led to formation of linguistic states which has actually made the country more
united. It has also made administration easier.
It reduces the power of the
Central government and gives power to regional governments.
(a) the state law
prevails.
(b) the central law prevails.
(c) both the laws prevail within their respective jurisdictions.
(d) the Supreme Court has to intervene to decide.11. What is the third tier of government known as?
(a) Village Panchayats
(b) State government
(c) Local self-government
(d) Zila Parishad12. What is true regarding sources of revenue in a
federal system?
(a) States have no
financial powers or independent sources of revenue.
(b) States are dependent on revenue or funds on the central government.
(c) Sources of revenue for each level of government are clearly specified to
ensure its financial autonomy.
(d) States have no financial autonomy.13. Which of the following is incorrect regarding a
unitary government?
(a) There is either
only one level of government or the sub-units are subordinate to the central
government.
(b) The central government can pass on orders to the provincial government.
(c) A state government is conservable to central government.
(d) The powers of state governments are guaranteed by the Constitution.14. What are the kinds of routes through which
federations have been formed?
(a) One route involves
independent states coming together on their own to form a bigger unit
(b) The second route is where a large country decides to divide its powers
between the states and the national government
(c) Both a and b
(d) None of these15. Which period saw the rise of regional political
parties in many states of the country?
(a) Period after 1990
(b) Period after 2000
(c) Period after 1980
(d) Period after 197016. Which language is recognised as the national
language by the Constitution of India?
(a) Hindi
(b) English
(c) Tamil
(d) None of these17. Which state of India enjoys a special status and
has its own Constitution?
(a) Bihar
(b) Uttar Pradesh
(c) Kerala
(d) Jammu and Kashmir18. Which of the following subjects is not included in
the Union list?
(a) Defence
(b) Foreign affairs
(c) Police
(d) Banking19.
Which of the following is not an example of
‘holding together’ federations?
(a) India
(b) Spain
(c) Belgium
(d) Switzerland20.
Which level of government in India has the power to
legislate on the ‘residuary’ subjects?
(a) Union government
(b) State government
(c) Local self-government
(d) Both a and b
Answers
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
B
d
d
A
b
c
c
b
a
b
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
C
c
d
C
a
B
d
c
d
a
1. Which state in India has its own
Constitution? (2012)
Answer: Jammu and Kashmir
2.What is Rural local self government
popularly known as? (2013)
Answer: Panchayati Raj
3.Which local body has a ‘Mayor’ as its
head? (2014)
Answer: Head of Municipal Corporation is a Mayor.
4. What other factors besides politics keep
the federations united? (2015)
Answer: Besides politics, other factors which keep the federations united
are culture, ideology and history. Culture of trust, cooperation, mutual
respect and restraint has also helped in the smooth functioning of nations.
5. What was the main objective of the
Constitutional Amendment made in 1992 in India? (2015)
Answer: The main objective of the Constitutional Amendment in 1992 was to
strengthen the three-tier system of governance, i.e., make the Panchayati Raj
Institution and the urban local bodies more powerful and effective.
6. What status has been given to the
‘Hindi’ language by the Constitution of India?
Answer: Hindi has been given the status of ‘Official language’ by the
Constitution of India.
7. Much of the official work in Indian States
is done in which language? (2014)
Answer: Much of the official work in Indian States
is done in the official language of the concerned state.
8. What is 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. This
vertical division of power among different levels of governments is referred to
as federalism.
9. Name the subject list from which both
the Union and the State governments can make laws?
Answer: Concurrent List
10. Explain the
vertical division of power by giving examples from India. (2013)
Answer: When power is shared among governments at
different levels, i.e., the Union or the Central Government, the State
Government and the Municipality and Panchayat at the lower level. This division
of power involving higher and lower levels of government is called the vertical
division of power.
Vertical division of power in India:
The Constitution declares India
as a Union of States. Although the word ‘Federation’ is not used, the Indian
Union is based on the principles of federation. The Constitution originally
provided for a two-tier system of government, the Union Government or the
Central Government representing Union of India and the State Governments.
A third-tier of federation
was added in the form of Panchayats and Municipalities. As in any federation,
these different tiers enjoy separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provides
for a three-fold distribution of legislative powers between the Union
Government and State Government. It contains three lists:
Union List (97 Subjects)
State List (66 Subjects)
Concurrent List (47
Subjects)
10. Why is decentralisation favoured in democracy?
Identify any two reasons.
Answer: Five advantages of decentralisation of
power:
When power is taken away
from Central and State Governments and given to local governments, it is called
decentralisation. The basic idea behind decentralisation is that there are a
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.
The need for
decentralisation was recognised in our Constitution. A major step towards
decentralisation was taken in 1992. The Constitution was amended to make the
third tier of democracy more powerful and effective.
12. India comes under which type of federation
and why? (2014)
Answer: 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. 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.
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 & Kashmir.
13. State two agreements through which
federations have been formed. Give an example of each.
Answer: (i) ‘Coming together’ federations—This agreement induces independent
states coming together on their own to form a bigger unit, so that by pooling
sovereignty and retaining identity they can increase their security.
Examples are: USA, Switzerland and Australia. All the constituent states have
equal power and are strong vis-a-vis the federal government.
(ii) ‘Holding together’
federations — In this agreement, a large country decides to divide its power
between the constituent States and the national government. The Central
Governments tend to be more powerful vis-a-vis the states. Often different
constituent units of the federation have unequal powers. Some units are granted
special powers, for example, India granted special powers to Jammu & Kashmir.
Other examples are Spain and Belgium.
14. Which five provisions of the
constitutional amendment of 1992 really strengthened the third tier of
democracy in India? Explain. (2015, 2013, 2012)
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation and strengthening of third tier
taken in 1992 were:
1.
Now it is
constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government
bodies.
2.
Seats are
reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other
backward classes (OBCs).
3.
Atleast
one-third of all positions and seats are reserved for women.
4.
An independent
institution called the State Election Commission was created to conduct
Panchayat and Municipal elections.
5.
The State
Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
15. Why has federalism succeeded in India?
Which are the policies adopted by India that have ensured it? Explain.
Answer: Reasons for success of federalism in India are:
1.
Clearly laid
out Constitutional Provisions providing a three-fold distribution of powers in
the three lists—Union List, State List and Concurrent List—between the Union
Government and State Governments.
2.
The nature of
democratic politics in our country which ensures that the spirit of federalism,
respect for diversity and desire for living together became a shared ideal.
3.
The creation of
linguistic states. Boundaries of several old states of India were changed in
order to create new states. This was done to ensure that people who spoke the
same language lived in the same state. Later some states were created to
recognise differences based on culture, ethnicity or geography.
For example: Nagaland, Uttrakhand, Jharkhand, Telangana, etc.
4.
Restricting
Centre-State relations. The constitutional arrangements for sharing power work
depending on how the ruling parties and leaders follow these arrangements. For
a long time, the same party ruled both at the Centre and in most of states. Post-1990
saw the rise of regional parties. Since no single party got a clear majority in
the Lok Sabha, the national parties had to enter into an alliance which led to
a new culture of power sharing and respect for autonomy of State Governments.
16. Explain any five features of federalism.
(2015)
Answer: Features of federalism:
1.
There are two
or more levels of government.
2.
Different
levels of government govern the same citizens, where each level has its own
jurisdiction in specific matters of legislation, taxation and administration.
3.
Existence and
authority of each level of government is constitutionally governed.
4.
The fundamental
provisions of the Constitution cannot be unilaterally changed. Such changes
require the consent of both the levels of government.
5.
Courts have the
power to interpret the Constitution and powers of the different levels of
government. The highest court acts as the umpire if any dispute arises between
different levels of governments.
6.
Sources of
revenue for each level of government are specified to ensure its financial
autonomy.
7.
Federal system
has dual objectives. To safeguard and promote unity of the country, and to
accommodate regional diversity.
17. Describe the three forms of power sharing
among different organs of government in India. (2014)
Answer: The Constitution declared India as a Union of States based on the
principles of federalism. The Constitution originally provided for a two-tier
system of government, the Union or the Central Government representing Union of
India and the State Governments. Later, a third tier was added in the form of
Panchayats and Municipalities.
As in any federation, these
different tiers enjoyed separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provided a
three-fold distribution of legislative powers:
1.
Union List
includes subjects of national importance, i.e., defence of the country, foreign
affairs, banking, communications and currency.
2.
State List
contains subjects of state and local importance, i.e., police, trade, commerce,
agriculture and irrigation.
3.
Concurrent List
includes subjects of common interest to both the Union Government as well as
the State Governments, i.e., education, forests, trade unions, marriages,
adoption and succession.
In case of dispute, law made by the Union Government shall prevail.
4.
Residuary—Subjects
which do not fall in any of the three lists, i.e., computer software, etc.
Union Government has the power to legislate such subjects.
As India is an example of
‘holding together’ federation, all states in the Indian Union do not have
identical powers. Some states enjoy special status such as Jammu & Kashmir.
There are some states too small to become independent like the Union
Territories of Chandigarh and Lakshadweep.
This sharing of power
between the Union Government and State Governments is basic to the structure of
the Constitution. Any change to it, has to be passed by both the Houses of the
Parliament with at least two-third majority.
The judiciary plays an
important role in the implementation of constitutional procedures. In case of
any dispute about division of powers, the High Courts and the Supreme Court
make a decision.
18. Describe in brief the language policy of
India?
Answer: Our Constitution did not give the status of national language to any
one language.
1.
The formation
of linguistic states united the country and made administration easier.
2.
The leaders of
our country adopted a very cautious attitude in spreading the use of Hindi.
Hindi was identified as official language.
3.
The banning of
use of English for official purposes in 1965 took a violent form in Tamil Nadu.
The Central Government responded by agreeing to continue the use of English
along with Hindi for official purposes.
4.
Promotion of
Hindi is an official policy of the Government of India but it does not impose
Hindi on states where people speak a different language.
5.
Besides Hindi,
there are 21 other languages recognised as scheduled languages by the
Constitution.
6.
This
flexibility shown by Indian leaders helped our country avoid the situation that
Sri Lanka finds itself in.
19. What were the major steps taken to make
decentralisation more effective?
Or
What amendments were made in the Constitution in order to make the third tier
of democracy (Local Government) more powerful and effective?
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation taken
in 1992 are:
1.
Now it is
constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government bodies.
2.
Seats are
reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other
backward classes (OBCs).
3.
Atleast
one-third of all positions are reserved for women.
4.
The State
Election Commission was created to conduct Panchayat and Municipal elections.
5.
The State
Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
20. Explain the structure of the new Panchayati Raj
institutions, both in rural and urban areas.
Answer: Rural Local Government is known by the name of Panachayati Raj/
Democratic decentralization.
Each village or group of
villages has a Gram Panchayat.
Panch, President or
Sarpanch are directly elected by all the adult population of the village and is
the decision-making body.
The Panchayat works under
the supervision of Gram Sabha, with all the voters as its members.
The local structure goes up
to the district level—a group of Gram Panchayats form a Panchayat Samiti or
Block or Mandal.
All the Panchayat Samitis
or Mandals together constitute the Zilla Parishad which consists of elected
members.
Lok Sabha members, Local
MLAs and officers are also members of the Zilla Parishad.
Its Chairperson is the
political head of the Parishad.
Urban areas local bodies.
Municipalities are set up
in towns.
Big cities are constituted
into Municipal Corporations.
Both are controlled by
elected bodies consisting of people’s representatives.
Municipal chairperson is
the political head of the Municipality.
The head of Municipal Corporation is an officer called the Mayor.
21. How is federal power sharing more effective today
than in the early years? Explain.
Answer: Federal power sharing is more effective because of the nature of
democratic politics in India. It has ensured that the spirit of federalism,
respect for diversity and desire for living together have become a shared ideal
in our country.
Federal power sharing has
helped to inculcate a habit of democratic participation. Federal power sharing
is the best way to realise one important principle of democracy, namely local
self-government. Constitutional status for local government has helped to
deepen democracy.
It has increased women’s
representation and voice in democracy.
Federal power sharing has
led to formation of linguistic states which has actually made the country more
united. It has also made administration easier.
It reduces the power of the
Central government and gives power to regional governments.
(a) Village Panchayats
(b) State government
(c) Local self-government
(d) Zila Parishad12. What is true regarding sources of revenue in a
federal system?
(a) States have no
financial powers or independent sources of revenue.
(b) States are dependent on revenue or funds on the central government.
(c) Sources of revenue for each level of government are clearly specified to
ensure its financial autonomy.
(d) States have no financial autonomy.13. Which of the following is incorrect regarding a
unitary government?
(a) There is either
only one level of government or the sub-units are subordinate to the central
government.
(b) The central government can pass on orders to the provincial government.
(c) A state government is conservable to central government.
(d) The powers of state governments are guaranteed by the Constitution.14. What are the kinds of routes through which
federations have been formed?
(a) One route involves
independent states coming together on their own to form a bigger unit
(b) The second route is where a large country decides to divide its powers
between the states and the national government
(c) Both a and b
(d) None of these15. Which period saw the rise of regional political
parties in many states of the country?
(a) Period after 1990
(b) Period after 2000
(c) Period after 1980
(d) Period after 197016. Which language is recognised as the national
language by the Constitution of India?
(a) Hindi
(b) English
(c) Tamil
(d) None of these17. Which state of India enjoys a special status and
has its own Constitution?
(a) Bihar
(b) Uttar Pradesh
(c) Kerala
(d) Jammu and Kashmir18. Which of the following subjects is not included in
the Union list?
(a) Defence
(b) Foreign affairs
(c) Police
(d) Banking19.
Which of the following is not an example of
‘holding together’ federations?
(a) India
(b) Spain
(c) Belgium
(d) Switzerland20.
Which level of government in India has the power to
legislate on the ‘residuary’ subjects?
(a) Union government
(b) State government
(c) Local self-government
(d) Both a and b
Answers
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
B
d
d
A
b
c
c
b
a
b
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
C
c
d
C
a
B
d
c
d
a
1. Which state in India has its own
Constitution? (2012)
Answer: Jammu and Kashmir
2.What is Rural local self government
popularly known as? (2013)
Answer: Panchayati Raj
3.Which local body has a ‘Mayor’ as its
head? (2014)
Answer: Head of Municipal Corporation is a Mayor.
4. What other factors besides politics keep
the federations united? (2015)
Answer: Besides politics, other factors which keep the federations united
are culture, ideology and history. Culture of trust, cooperation, mutual
respect and restraint has also helped in the smooth functioning of nations.
5. What was the main objective of the
Constitutional Amendment made in 1992 in India? (2015)
Answer: The main objective of the Constitutional Amendment in 1992 was to
strengthen the three-tier system of governance, i.e., make the Panchayati Raj
Institution and the urban local bodies more powerful and effective.
6. What status has been given to the
‘Hindi’ language by the Constitution of India?
Answer: Hindi has been given the status of ‘Official language’ by the
Constitution of India.
7. Much of the official work in Indian States
is done in which language? (2014)
Answer: Much of the official work in Indian States
is done in the official language of the concerned state.
8. What is 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. This
vertical division of power among different levels of governments is referred to
as federalism.
9. Name the subject list from which both
the Union and the State governments can make laws?
Answer: Concurrent List
10. Explain the
vertical division of power by giving examples from India. (2013)
Answer: When power is shared among governments at
different levels, i.e., the Union or the Central Government, the State
Government and the Municipality and Panchayat at the lower level. This division
of power involving higher and lower levels of government is called the vertical
division of power.
Vertical division of power in India:
The Constitution declares India
as a Union of States. Although the word ‘Federation’ is not used, the Indian
Union is based on the principles of federation. The Constitution originally
provided for a two-tier system of government, the Union Government or the
Central Government representing Union of India and the State Governments.
A third-tier of federation
was added in the form of Panchayats and Municipalities. As in any federation,
these different tiers enjoy separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provides
for a three-fold distribution of legislative powers between the Union
Government and State Government. It contains three lists:
Union List (97 Subjects)
State List (66 Subjects)
Concurrent List (47
Subjects)
10. Why is decentralisation favoured in democracy?
Identify any two reasons.
Answer: Five advantages of decentralisation of
power:
When power is taken away
from Central and State Governments and given to local governments, it is called
decentralisation. The basic idea behind decentralisation is that there are a
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.
The need for
decentralisation was recognised in our Constitution. A major step towards
decentralisation was taken in 1992. The Constitution was amended to make the
third tier of democracy more powerful and effective.
12. India comes under which type of federation
and why? (2014)
Answer: 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. 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.
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 & Kashmir.
13. State two agreements through which
federations have been formed. Give an example of each.
Answer: (i) ‘Coming together’ federations—This agreement induces independent
states coming together on their own to form a bigger unit, so that by pooling
sovereignty and retaining identity they can increase their security.
Examples are: USA, Switzerland and Australia. All the constituent states have
equal power and are strong vis-a-vis the federal government.
(ii) ‘Holding together’
federations — In this agreement, a large country decides to divide its power
between the constituent States and the national government. The Central
Governments tend to be more powerful vis-a-vis the states. Often different
constituent units of the federation have unequal powers. Some units are granted
special powers, for example, India granted special powers to Jammu & Kashmir.
Other examples are Spain and Belgium.
14. Which five provisions of the
constitutional amendment of 1992 really strengthened the third tier of
democracy in India? Explain. (2015, 2013, 2012)
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation and strengthening of third tier
taken in 1992 were:
1.
Now it is
constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government
bodies.
2.
Seats are
reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other
backward classes (OBCs).
3.
Atleast
one-third of all positions and seats are reserved for women.
4.
An independent
institution called the State Election Commission was created to conduct
Panchayat and Municipal elections.
5.
The State
Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
15. Why has federalism succeeded in India?
Which are the policies adopted by India that have ensured it? Explain.
Answer: Reasons for success of federalism in India are:
1.
Clearly laid
out Constitutional Provisions providing a three-fold distribution of powers in
the three lists—Union List, State List and Concurrent List—between the Union
Government and State Governments.
2.
The nature of
democratic politics in our country which ensures that the spirit of federalism,
respect for diversity and desire for living together became a shared ideal.
3.
The creation of
linguistic states. Boundaries of several old states of India were changed in
order to create new states. This was done to ensure that people who spoke the
same language lived in the same state. Later some states were created to
recognise differences based on culture, ethnicity or geography.
For example: Nagaland, Uttrakhand, Jharkhand, Telangana, etc.
4.
Restricting
Centre-State relations. The constitutional arrangements for sharing power work
depending on how the ruling parties and leaders follow these arrangements. For
a long time, the same party ruled both at the Centre and in most of states. Post-1990
saw the rise of regional parties. Since no single party got a clear majority in
the Lok Sabha, the national parties had to enter into an alliance which led to
a new culture of power sharing and respect for autonomy of State Governments.
16. Explain any five features of federalism.
(2015)
Answer: Features of federalism:
1.
There are two
or more levels of government.
2.
Different
levels of government govern the same citizens, where each level has its own
jurisdiction in specific matters of legislation, taxation and administration.
3.
Existence and
authority of each level of government is constitutionally governed.
4.
The fundamental
provisions of the Constitution cannot be unilaterally changed. Such changes
require the consent of both the levels of government.
5.
Courts have the
power to interpret the Constitution and powers of the different levels of
government. The highest court acts as the umpire if any dispute arises between
different levels of governments.
6.
Sources of
revenue for each level of government are specified to ensure its financial
autonomy.
7.
Federal system
has dual objectives. To safeguard and promote unity of the country, and to
accommodate regional diversity.
17. Describe the three forms of power sharing
among different organs of government in India. (2014)
Answer: The Constitution declared India as a Union of States based on the
principles of federalism. The Constitution originally provided for a two-tier
system of government, the Union or the Central Government representing Union of
India and the State Governments. Later, a third tier was added in the form of
Panchayats and Municipalities.
As in any federation, these
different tiers enjoyed separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provided a
three-fold distribution of legislative powers:
1.
Union List
includes subjects of national importance, i.e., defence of the country, foreign
affairs, banking, communications and currency.
2.
State List
contains subjects of state and local importance, i.e., police, trade, commerce,
agriculture and irrigation.
3.
Concurrent List
includes subjects of common interest to both the Union Government as well as
the State Governments, i.e., education, forests, trade unions, marriages,
adoption and succession.
In case of dispute, law made by the Union Government shall prevail.
4.
Residuary—Subjects
which do not fall in any of the three lists, i.e., computer software, etc.
Union Government has the power to legislate such subjects.
As India is an example of
‘holding together’ federation, all states in the Indian Union do not have
identical powers. Some states enjoy special status such as Jammu & Kashmir.
There are some states too small to become independent like the Union
Territories of Chandigarh and Lakshadweep.
This sharing of power
between the Union Government and State Governments is basic to the structure of
the Constitution. Any change to it, has to be passed by both the Houses of the
Parliament with at least two-third majority.
The judiciary plays an
important role in the implementation of constitutional procedures. In case of
any dispute about division of powers, the High Courts and the Supreme Court
make a decision.
18. Describe in brief the language policy of
India?
Answer: Our Constitution did not give the status of national language to any
one language.
1.
The formation
of linguistic states united the country and made administration easier.
2.
The leaders of
our country adopted a very cautious attitude in spreading the use of Hindi.
Hindi was identified as official language.
3.
The banning of
use of English for official purposes in 1965 took a violent form in Tamil Nadu.
The Central Government responded by agreeing to continue the use of English
along with Hindi for official purposes.
4.
Promotion of
Hindi is an official policy of the Government of India but it does not impose
Hindi on states where people speak a different language.
5.
Besides Hindi,
there are 21 other languages recognised as scheduled languages by the
Constitution.
6.
This
flexibility shown by Indian leaders helped our country avoid the situation that
Sri Lanka finds itself in.
19. What were the major steps taken to make
decentralisation more effective?
Or
What amendments were made in the Constitution in order to make the third tier
of democracy (Local Government) more powerful and effective?
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation taken
in 1992 are:
1.
Now it is
constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government bodies.
2.
Seats are
reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other
backward classes (OBCs).
3.
Atleast
one-third of all positions are reserved for women.
4.
The State
Election Commission was created to conduct Panchayat and Municipal elections.
5.
The State
Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
20. Explain the structure of the new Panchayati Raj
institutions, both in rural and urban areas.
Answer: Rural Local Government is known by the name of Panachayati Raj/
Democratic decentralization.
Each village or group of
villages has a Gram Panchayat.
Panch, President or
Sarpanch are directly elected by all the adult population of the village and is
the decision-making body.
The Panchayat works under
the supervision of Gram Sabha, with all the voters as its members.
The local structure goes up
to the district level—a group of Gram Panchayats form a Panchayat Samiti or
Block or Mandal.
All the Panchayat Samitis
or Mandals together constitute the Zilla Parishad which consists of elected
members.
Lok Sabha members, Local
MLAs and officers are also members of the Zilla Parishad.
Its Chairperson is the
political head of the Parishad.
Urban areas local bodies.
Municipalities are set up
in towns.
Big cities are constituted
into Municipal Corporations.
Both are controlled by
elected bodies consisting of people’s representatives.
Municipal chairperson is
the political head of the Municipality.
The head of Municipal Corporation is an officer called the Mayor.
21. How is federal power sharing more effective today
than in the early years? Explain.
Answer: Federal power sharing is more effective because of the nature of
democratic politics in India. It has ensured that the spirit of federalism,
respect for diversity and desire for living together have become a shared ideal
in our country.
Federal power sharing has
helped to inculcate a habit of democratic participation. Federal power sharing
is the best way to realise one important principle of democracy, namely local
self-government. Constitutional status for local government has helped to
deepen democracy.
It has increased women’s
representation and voice in democracy.
Federal power sharing has
led to formation of linguistic states which has actually made the country more
united. It has also made administration easier.
It reduces the power of the
Central government and gives power to regional governments.
(a) States have no
financial powers or independent sources of revenue.
(b) States are dependent on revenue or funds on the central government.
(c) Sources of revenue for each level of government are clearly specified to
ensure its financial autonomy.
(d) States have no financial autonomy.13. Which of the following is incorrect regarding a
unitary government?
(a) There is either
only one level of government or the sub-units are subordinate to the central
government.
(b) The central government can pass on orders to the provincial government.
(c) A state government is conservable to central government.
(d) The powers of state governments are guaranteed by the Constitution.14. What are the kinds of routes through which
federations have been formed?
(a) One route involves
independent states coming together on their own to form a bigger unit
(b) The second route is where a large country decides to divide its powers
between the states and the national government
(c) Both a and b
(d) None of these15. Which period saw the rise of regional political
parties in many states of the country?
(a) Period after 1990
(b) Period after 2000
(c) Period after 1980
(d) Period after 197016. Which language is recognised as the national
language by the Constitution of India?
(a) Hindi
(b) English
(c) Tamil
(d) None of these17. Which state of India enjoys a special status and
has its own Constitution?
(a) Bihar
(b) Uttar Pradesh
(c) Kerala
(d) Jammu and Kashmir18. Which of the following subjects is not included in
the Union list?
(a) Defence
(b) Foreign affairs
(c) Police
(d) Banking19.
Which of the following is not an example of
‘holding together’ federations?
(a) India
(b) Spain
(c) Belgium
(d) Switzerland20.
Which level of government in India has the power to
legislate on the ‘residuary’ subjects?
(a) Union government
(b) State government
(c) Local self-government
(d) Both a and b
Answers
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
B
d
d
A
b
c
c
b
a
b
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
C
c
d
C
a
B
d
c
d
a
1. Which state in India has its own
Constitution? (2012)
Answer: Jammu and Kashmir
2.What is Rural local self government
popularly known as? (2013)
Answer: Panchayati Raj
3.Which local body has a ‘Mayor’ as its
head? (2014)
Answer: Head of Municipal Corporation is a Mayor.
4. What other factors besides politics keep
the federations united? (2015)
Answer: Besides politics, other factors which keep the federations united
are culture, ideology and history. Culture of trust, cooperation, mutual
respect and restraint has also helped in the smooth functioning of nations.
5. What was the main objective of the
Constitutional Amendment made in 1992 in India? (2015)
Answer: The main objective of the Constitutional Amendment in 1992 was to
strengthen the three-tier system of governance, i.e., make the Panchayati Raj
Institution and the urban local bodies more powerful and effective.
6. What status has been given to the
‘Hindi’ language by the Constitution of India?
Answer: Hindi has been given the status of ‘Official language’ by the
Constitution of India.
7. Much of the official work in Indian States
is done in which language? (2014)
Answer: Much of the official work in Indian States
is done in the official language of the concerned state.
8. What is 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. This
vertical division of power among different levels of governments is referred to
as federalism.
9. Name the subject list from which both
the Union and the State governments can make laws?
Answer: Concurrent List
10. Explain the
vertical division of power by giving examples from India. (2013)
Answer: When power is shared among governments at
different levels, i.e., the Union or the Central Government, the State
Government and the Municipality and Panchayat at the lower level. This division
of power involving higher and lower levels of government is called the vertical
division of power.
Vertical division of power in India:
The Constitution declares India
as a Union of States. Although the word ‘Federation’ is not used, the Indian
Union is based on the principles of federation. The Constitution originally
provided for a two-tier system of government, the Union Government or the
Central Government representing Union of India and the State Governments.
A third-tier of federation
was added in the form of Panchayats and Municipalities. As in any federation,
these different tiers enjoy separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provides
for a three-fold distribution of legislative powers between the Union
Government and State Government. It contains three lists:
Union List (97 Subjects)
State List (66 Subjects)
Concurrent List (47
Subjects)
10. Why is decentralisation favoured in democracy?
Identify any two reasons.
Answer: Five advantages of decentralisation of
power:
When power is taken away
from Central and State Governments and given to local governments, it is called
decentralisation. The basic idea behind decentralisation is that there are a
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.
The need for
decentralisation was recognised in our Constitution. A major step towards
decentralisation was taken in 1992. The Constitution was amended to make the
third tier of democracy more powerful and effective.
12. India comes under which type of federation
and why? (2014)
Answer: 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. 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.
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 & Kashmir.
13. State two agreements through which
federations have been formed. Give an example of each.
Answer: (i) ‘Coming together’ federations—This agreement induces independent
states coming together on their own to form a bigger unit, so that by pooling
sovereignty and retaining identity they can increase their security.
Examples are: USA, Switzerland and Australia. All the constituent states have
equal power and are strong vis-a-vis the federal government.
(ii) ‘Holding together’
federations — In this agreement, a large country decides to divide its power
between the constituent States and the national government. The Central
Governments tend to be more powerful vis-a-vis the states. Often different
constituent units of the federation have unequal powers. Some units are granted
special powers, for example, India granted special powers to Jammu & Kashmir.
Other examples are Spain and Belgium.
14. Which five provisions of the
constitutional amendment of 1992 really strengthened the third tier of
democracy in India? Explain. (2015, 2013, 2012)
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation and strengthening of third tier
taken in 1992 were:
1.
Now it is
constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government
bodies.
2.
Seats are
reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other
backward classes (OBCs).
3.
Atleast
one-third of all positions and seats are reserved for women.
4.
An independent
institution called the State Election Commission was created to conduct
Panchayat and Municipal elections.
5.
The State
Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
15. Why has federalism succeeded in India?
Which are the policies adopted by India that have ensured it? Explain.
Answer: Reasons for success of federalism in India are:
1.
Clearly laid
out Constitutional Provisions providing a three-fold distribution of powers in
the three lists—Union List, State List and Concurrent List—between the Union
Government and State Governments.
2.
The nature of
democratic politics in our country which ensures that the spirit of federalism,
respect for diversity and desire for living together became a shared ideal.
3.
The creation of
linguistic states. Boundaries of several old states of India were changed in
order to create new states. This was done to ensure that people who spoke the
same language lived in the same state. Later some states were created to
recognise differences based on culture, ethnicity or geography.
For example: Nagaland, Uttrakhand, Jharkhand, Telangana, etc.
4.
Restricting
Centre-State relations. The constitutional arrangements for sharing power work
depending on how the ruling parties and leaders follow these arrangements. For
a long time, the same party ruled both at the Centre and in most of states. Post-1990
saw the rise of regional parties. Since no single party got a clear majority in
the Lok Sabha, the national parties had to enter into an alliance which led to
a new culture of power sharing and respect for autonomy of State Governments.
16. Explain any five features of federalism.
(2015)
Answer: Features of federalism:
1.
There are two
or more levels of government.
2.
Different
levels of government govern the same citizens, where each level has its own
jurisdiction in specific matters of legislation, taxation and administration.
3.
Existence and
authority of each level of government is constitutionally governed.
4.
The fundamental
provisions of the Constitution cannot be unilaterally changed. Such changes
require the consent of both the levels of government.
5.
Courts have the
power to interpret the Constitution and powers of the different levels of
government. The highest court acts as the umpire if any dispute arises between
different levels of governments.
6.
Sources of
revenue for each level of government are specified to ensure its financial
autonomy.
7.
Federal system
has dual objectives. To safeguard and promote unity of the country, and to
accommodate regional diversity.
17. Describe the three forms of power sharing
among different organs of government in India. (2014)
Answer: The Constitution declared India as a Union of States based on the
principles of federalism. The Constitution originally provided for a two-tier
system of government, the Union or the Central Government representing Union of
India and the State Governments. Later, a third tier was added in the form of
Panchayats and Municipalities.
As in any federation, these
different tiers enjoyed separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provided a
three-fold distribution of legislative powers:
1.
Union List
includes subjects of national importance, i.e., defence of the country, foreign
affairs, banking, communications and currency.
2.
State List
contains subjects of state and local importance, i.e., police, trade, commerce,
agriculture and irrigation.
3.
Concurrent List
includes subjects of common interest to both the Union Government as well as
the State Governments, i.e., education, forests, trade unions, marriages,
adoption and succession.
In case of dispute, law made by the Union Government shall prevail.
4.
Residuary—Subjects
which do not fall in any of the three lists, i.e., computer software, etc.
Union Government has the power to legislate such subjects.
As India is an example of
‘holding together’ federation, all states in the Indian Union do not have
identical powers. Some states enjoy special status such as Jammu & Kashmir.
There are some states too small to become independent like the Union
Territories of Chandigarh and Lakshadweep.
This sharing of power
between the Union Government and State Governments is basic to the structure of
the Constitution. Any change to it, has to be passed by both the Houses of the
Parliament with at least two-third majority.
The judiciary plays an
important role in the implementation of constitutional procedures. In case of
any dispute about division of powers, the High Courts and the Supreme Court
make a decision.
18. Describe in brief the language policy of
India?
Answer: Our Constitution did not give the status of national language to any
one language.
1.
The formation
of linguistic states united the country and made administration easier.
2.
The leaders of
our country adopted a very cautious attitude in spreading the use of Hindi.
Hindi was identified as official language.
3.
The banning of
use of English for official purposes in 1965 took a violent form in Tamil Nadu.
The Central Government responded by agreeing to continue the use of English
along with Hindi for official purposes.
4.
Promotion of
Hindi is an official policy of the Government of India but it does not impose
Hindi on states where people speak a different language.
5.
Besides Hindi,
there are 21 other languages recognised as scheduled languages by the
Constitution.
6.
This
flexibility shown by Indian leaders helped our country avoid the situation that
Sri Lanka finds itself in.
19. What were the major steps taken to make
decentralisation more effective?
Or
What amendments were made in the Constitution in order to make the third tier
of democracy (Local Government) more powerful and effective?
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation taken
in 1992 are:
1.
Now it is
constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government bodies.
2.
Seats are
reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other
backward classes (OBCs).
3.
Atleast
one-third of all positions are reserved for women.
4.
The State
Election Commission was created to conduct Panchayat and Municipal elections.
5.
The State
Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
20. Explain the structure of the new Panchayati Raj
institutions, both in rural and urban areas.
Answer: Rural Local Government is known by the name of Panachayati Raj/
Democratic decentralization.
Each village or group of
villages has a Gram Panchayat.
Panch, President or
Sarpanch are directly elected by all the adult population of the village and is
the decision-making body.
The Panchayat works under
the supervision of Gram Sabha, with all the voters as its members.
The local structure goes up
to the district level—a group of Gram Panchayats form a Panchayat Samiti or
Block or Mandal.
All the Panchayat Samitis
or Mandals together constitute the Zilla Parishad which consists of elected
members.
Lok Sabha members, Local
MLAs and officers are also members of the Zilla Parishad.
Its Chairperson is the
political head of the Parishad.
Urban areas local bodies.
Municipalities are set up
in towns.
Big cities are constituted
into Municipal Corporations.
Both are controlled by
elected bodies consisting of people’s representatives.
Municipal chairperson is
the political head of the Municipality.
The head of Municipal Corporation is an officer called the Mayor.
21. How is federal power sharing more effective today
than in the early years? Explain.
Answer: Federal power sharing is more effective because of the nature of
democratic politics in India. It has ensured that the spirit of federalism,
respect for diversity and desire for living together have become a shared ideal
in our country.
Federal power sharing has
helped to inculcate a habit of democratic participation. Federal power sharing
is the best way to realise one important principle of democracy, namely local
self-government. Constitutional status for local government has helped to
deepen democracy.
It has increased women’s
representation and voice in democracy.
Federal power sharing has
led to formation of linguistic states which has actually made the country more
united. It has also made administration easier.
It reduces the power of the
Central government and gives power to regional governments.
(a) There is either
only one level of government or the sub-units are subordinate to the central
government.
(b) The central government can pass on orders to the provincial government.
(c) A state government is conservable to central government.
(d) The powers of state governments are guaranteed by the Constitution.14. What are the kinds of routes through which
federations have been formed?
(a) One route involves
independent states coming together on their own to form a bigger unit
(b) The second route is where a large country decides to divide its powers
between the states and the national government
(c) Both a and b
(d) None of these15. Which period saw the rise of regional political
parties in many states of the country?
(a) Period after 1990
(b) Period after 2000
(c) Period after 1980
(d) Period after 197016. Which language is recognised as the national
language by the Constitution of India?
(a) Hindi
(b) English
(c) Tamil
(d) None of these17. Which state of India enjoys a special status and
has its own Constitution?
(a) Bihar
(b) Uttar Pradesh
(c) Kerala
(d) Jammu and Kashmir18. Which of the following subjects is not included in
the Union list?
(a) Defence
(b) Foreign affairs
(c) Police
(d) Banking19.
Which of the following is not an example of
‘holding together’ federations?
(a) India
(b) Spain
(c) Belgium
(d) Switzerland20.
Which level of government in India has the power to
legislate on the ‘residuary’ subjects?
(a) Union government
(b) State government
(c) Local self-government
(d) Both a and b
Answers
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
B
d
d
A
b
c
c
b
a
b
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
C
c
d
C
a
B
d
c
d
a
1. Which state in India has its own
Constitution? (2012)
Answer: Jammu and Kashmir
2.What is Rural local self government
popularly known as? (2013)
Answer: Panchayati Raj
3.Which local body has a ‘Mayor’ as its
head? (2014)
Answer: Head of Municipal Corporation is a Mayor.
4. What other factors besides politics keep
the federations united? (2015)
Answer: Besides politics, other factors which keep the federations united
are culture, ideology and history. Culture of trust, cooperation, mutual
respect and restraint has also helped in the smooth functioning of nations.
5. What was the main objective of the
Constitutional Amendment made in 1992 in India? (2015)
Answer: The main objective of the Constitutional Amendment in 1992 was to
strengthen the three-tier system of governance, i.e., make the Panchayati Raj
Institution and the urban local bodies more powerful and effective.
6. What status has been given to the
‘Hindi’ language by the Constitution of India?
Answer: Hindi has been given the status of ‘Official language’ by the
Constitution of India.
7. Much of the official work in Indian States
is done in which language? (2014)
Answer: Much of the official work in Indian States
is done in the official language of the concerned state.
8. What is 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. This
vertical division of power among different levels of governments is referred to
as federalism.
9. Name the subject list from which both
the Union and the State governments can make laws?
Answer: Concurrent List
10. Explain the
vertical division of power by giving examples from India. (2013)
Answer: When power is shared among governments at
different levels, i.e., the Union or the Central Government, the State
Government and the Municipality and Panchayat at the lower level. This division
of power involving higher and lower levels of government is called the vertical
division of power.
Vertical division of power in India:
The Constitution declares India
as a Union of States. Although the word ‘Federation’ is not used, the Indian
Union is based on the principles of federation. The Constitution originally
provided for a two-tier system of government, the Union Government or the
Central Government representing Union of India and the State Governments.
A third-tier of federation
was added in the form of Panchayats and Municipalities. As in any federation,
these different tiers enjoy separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provides
for a three-fold distribution of legislative powers between the Union
Government and State Government. It contains three lists:
Union List (97 Subjects)
State List (66 Subjects)
Concurrent List (47
Subjects)
10. Why is decentralisation favoured in democracy?
Identify any two reasons.
Answer: Five advantages of decentralisation of
power:
When power is taken away
from Central and State Governments and given to local governments, it is called
decentralisation. The basic idea behind decentralisation is that there are a
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.
The need for
decentralisation was recognised in our Constitution. A major step towards
decentralisation was taken in 1992. The Constitution was amended to make the
third tier of democracy more powerful and effective.
12. India comes under which type of federation
and why? (2014)
Answer: 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. 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.
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 & Kashmir.
13. State two agreements through which
federations have been formed. Give an example of each.
Answer: (i) ‘Coming together’ federations—This agreement induces independent
states coming together on their own to form a bigger unit, so that by pooling
sovereignty and retaining identity they can increase their security.
Examples are: USA, Switzerland and Australia. All the constituent states have
equal power and are strong vis-a-vis the federal government.
(ii) ‘Holding together’
federations — In this agreement, a large country decides to divide its power
between the constituent States and the national government. The Central
Governments tend to be more powerful vis-a-vis the states. Often different
constituent units of the federation have unequal powers. Some units are granted
special powers, for example, India granted special powers to Jammu & Kashmir.
Other examples are Spain and Belgium.
14. Which five provisions of the
constitutional amendment of 1992 really strengthened the third tier of
democracy in India? Explain. (2015, 2013, 2012)
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation and strengthening of third tier
taken in 1992 were:
1.
Now it is
constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government
bodies.
2.
Seats are
reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other
backward classes (OBCs).
3.
Atleast
one-third of all positions and seats are reserved for women.
4.
An independent
institution called the State Election Commission was created to conduct
Panchayat and Municipal elections.
5.
The State
Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
15. Why has federalism succeeded in India?
Which are the policies adopted by India that have ensured it? Explain.
Answer: Reasons for success of federalism in India are:
1.
Clearly laid
out Constitutional Provisions providing a three-fold distribution of powers in
the three lists—Union List, State List and Concurrent List—between the Union
Government and State Governments.
2.
The nature of
democratic politics in our country which ensures that the spirit of federalism,
respect for diversity and desire for living together became a shared ideal.
3.
The creation of
linguistic states. Boundaries of several old states of India were changed in
order to create new states. This was done to ensure that people who spoke the
same language lived in the same state. Later some states were created to
recognise differences based on culture, ethnicity or geography.
For example: Nagaland, Uttrakhand, Jharkhand, Telangana, etc.
4.
Restricting
Centre-State relations. The constitutional arrangements for sharing power work
depending on how the ruling parties and leaders follow these arrangements. For
a long time, the same party ruled both at the Centre and in most of states. Post-1990
saw the rise of regional parties. Since no single party got a clear majority in
the Lok Sabha, the national parties had to enter into an alliance which led to
a new culture of power sharing and respect for autonomy of State Governments.
16. Explain any five features of federalism.
(2015)
Answer: Features of federalism:
1.
There are two
or more levels of government.
2.
Different
levels of government govern the same citizens, where each level has its own
jurisdiction in specific matters of legislation, taxation and administration.
3.
Existence and
authority of each level of government is constitutionally governed.
4.
The fundamental
provisions of the Constitution cannot be unilaterally changed. Such changes
require the consent of both the levels of government.
5.
Courts have the
power to interpret the Constitution and powers of the different levels of
government. The highest court acts as the umpire if any dispute arises between
different levels of governments.
6.
Sources of
revenue for each level of government are specified to ensure its financial
autonomy.
7.
Federal system
has dual objectives. To safeguard and promote unity of the country, and to
accommodate regional diversity.
17. Describe the three forms of power sharing
among different organs of government in India. (2014)
Answer: The Constitution declared India as a Union of States based on the
principles of federalism. The Constitution originally provided for a two-tier
system of government, the Union or the Central Government representing Union of
India and the State Governments. Later, a third tier was added in the form of
Panchayats and Municipalities.
As in any federation, these
different tiers enjoyed separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provided a
three-fold distribution of legislative powers:
1.
Union List
includes subjects of national importance, i.e., defence of the country, foreign
affairs, banking, communications and currency.
2.
State List
contains subjects of state and local importance, i.e., police, trade, commerce,
agriculture and irrigation.
3.
Concurrent List
includes subjects of common interest to both the Union Government as well as
the State Governments, i.e., education, forests, trade unions, marriages,
adoption and succession.
In case of dispute, law made by the Union Government shall prevail.
4.
Residuary—Subjects
which do not fall in any of the three lists, i.e., computer software, etc.
Union Government has the power to legislate such subjects.
As India is an example of
‘holding together’ federation, all states in the Indian Union do not have
identical powers. Some states enjoy special status such as Jammu & Kashmir.
There are some states too small to become independent like the Union
Territories of Chandigarh and Lakshadweep.
This sharing of power
between the Union Government and State Governments is basic to the structure of
the Constitution. Any change to it, has to be passed by both the Houses of the
Parliament with at least two-third majority.
The judiciary plays an
important role in the implementation of constitutional procedures. In case of
any dispute about division of powers, the High Courts and the Supreme Court
make a decision.
18. Describe in brief the language policy of
India?
Answer: Our Constitution did not give the status of national language to any
one language.
1.
The formation
of linguistic states united the country and made administration easier.
2.
The leaders of
our country adopted a very cautious attitude in spreading the use of Hindi.
Hindi was identified as official language.
3.
The banning of
use of English for official purposes in 1965 took a violent form in Tamil Nadu.
The Central Government responded by agreeing to continue the use of English
along with Hindi for official purposes.
4.
Promotion of
Hindi is an official policy of the Government of India but it does not impose
Hindi on states where people speak a different language.
5.
Besides Hindi,
there are 21 other languages recognised as scheduled languages by the
Constitution.
6.
This
flexibility shown by Indian leaders helped our country avoid the situation that
Sri Lanka finds itself in.
19. What were the major steps taken to make
decentralisation more effective?
Or
What amendments were made in the Constitution in order to make the third tier
of democracy (Local Government) more powerful and effective?
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation taken
in 1992 are:
1.
Now it is
constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government bodies.
2.
Seats are
reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other
backward classes (OBCs).
3.
Atleast
one-third of all positions are reserved for women.
4.
The State
Election Commission was created to conduct Panchayat and Municipal elections.
5.
The State
Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
20. Explain the structure of the new Panchayati Raj
institutions, both in rural and urban areas.
Answer: Rural Local Government is known by the name of Panachayati Raj/
Democratic decentralization.
Each village or group of
villages has a Gram Panchayat.
Panch, President or
Sarpanch are directly elected by all the adult population of the village and is
the decision-making body.
The Panchayat works under
the supervision of Gram Sabha, with all the voters as its members.
The local structure goes up
to the district level—a group of Gram Panchayats form a Panchayat Samiti or
Block or Mandal.
All the Panchayat Samitis
or Mandals together constitute the Zilla Parishad which consists of elected
members.
Lok Sabha members, Local
MLAs and officers are also members of the Zilla Parishad.
Its Chairperson is the
political head of the Parishad.
Urban areas local bodies.
Municipalities are set up
in towns.
Big cities are constituted
into Municipal Corporations.
Both are controlled by
elected bodies consisting of people’s representatives.
Municipal chairperson is
the political head of the Municipality.
The head of Municipal Corporation is an officer called the Mayor.
21. How is federal power sharing more effective today
than in the early years? Explain.
Answer: Federal power sharing is more effective because of the nature of
democratic politics in India. It has ensured that the spirit of federalism,
respect for diversity and desire for living together have become a shared ideal
in our country.
Federal power sharing has
helped to inculcate a habit of democratic participation. Federal power sharing
is the best way to realise one important principle of democracy, namely local
self-government. Constitutional status for local government has helped to
deepen democracy.
It has increased women’s
representation and voice in democracy.
Federal power sharing has
led to formation of linguistic states which has actually made the country more
united. It has also made administration easier.
It reduces the power of the
Central government and gives power to regional governments.
(a) One route involves
independent states coming together on their own to form a bigger unit
(b) The second route is where a large country decides to divide its powers
between the states and the national government
(c) Both a and b
(d) None of these15. Which period saw the rise of regional political
parties in many states of the country?
(a) Period after 1990
(b) Period after 2000
(c) Period after 1980
(d) Period after 197016. Which language is recognised as the national
language by the Constitution of India?
(a) Hindi
(b) English
(c) Tamil
(d) None of these17. Which state of India enjoys a special status and
has its own Constitution?
(a) Bihar
(b) Uttar Pradesh
(c) Kerala
(d) Jammu and Kashmir18. Which of the following subjects is not included in
the Union list?
(a) Defence
(b) Foreign affairs
(c) Police
(d) Banking19.
Which of the following is not an example of
‘holding together’ federations?
(a) India
(b) Spain
(c) Belgium
(d) Switzerland20.
Which level of government in India has the power to
legislate on the ‘residuary’ subjects?
(a) Union government
(b) State government
(c) Local self-government
(d) Both a and b
Answers
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
B
d
d
A
b
c
c
b
a
b
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
C
c
d
C
a
B
d
c
d
a
1. Which state in India has its own
Constitution? (2012)
Answer: Jammu and Kashmir
2.What is Rural local self government
popularly known as? (2013)
Answer: Panchayati Raj
3.Which local body has a ‘Mayor’ as its
head? (2014)
Answer: Head of Municipal Corporation is a Mayor.
4. What other factors besides politics keep
the federations united? (2015)
Answer: Besides politics, other factors which keep the federations united
are culture, ideology and history. Culture of trust, cooperation, mutual
respect and restraint has also helped in the smooth functioning of nations.
5. What was the main objective of the
Constitutional Amendment made in 1992 in India? (2015)
Answer: The main objective of the Constitutional Amendment in 1992 was to
strengthen the three-tier system of governance, i.e., make the Panchayati Raj
Institution and the urban local bodies more powerful and effective.
6. What status has been given to the
‘Hindi’ language by the Constitution of India?
Answer: Hindi has been given the status of ‘Official language’ by the
Constitution of India.
7. Much of the official work in Indian States
is done in which language? (2014)
Answer: Much of the official work in Indian States
is done in the official language of the concerned state.
8. What is 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. This
vertical division of power among different levels of governments is referred to
as federalism.
9. Name the subject list from which both
the Union and the State governments can make laws?
Answer: Concurrent List
10. Explain the
vertical division of power by giving examples from India. (2013)
Answer: When power is shared among governments at
different levels, i.e., the Union or the Central Government, the State
Government and the Municipality and Panchayat at the lower level. This division
of power involving higher and lower levels of government is called the vertical
division of power.
Vertical division of power in India:
The Constitution declares India
as a Union of States. Although the word ‘Federation’ is not used, the Indian
Union is based on the principles of federation. The Constitution originally
provided for a two-tier system of government, the Union Government or the
Central Government representing Union of India and the State Governments.
A third-tier of federation
was added in the form of Panchayats and Municipalities. As in any federation,
these different tiers enjoy separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provides
for a three-fold distribution of legislative powers between the Union
Government and State Government. It contains three lists:
Union List (97 Subjects)
State List (66 Subjects)
Concurrent List (47
Subjects)
10. Why is decentralisation favoured in democracy?
Identify any two reasons.
Answer: Five advantages of decentralisation of
power:
When power is taken away
from Central and State Governments and given to local governments, it is called
decentralisation. The basic idea behind decentralisation is that there are a
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.
The need for
decentralisation was recognised in our Constitution. A major step towards
decentralisation was taken in 1992. The Constitution was amended to make the
third tier of democracy more powerful and effective.
12. India comes under which type of federation
and why? (2014)
Answer: 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. 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.
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 & Kashmir.
13. State two agreements through which
federations have been formed. Give an example of each.
Answer: (i) ‘Coming together’ federations—This agreement induces independent
states coming together on their own to form a bigger unit, so that by pooling
sovereignty and retaining identity they can increase their security.
Examples are: USA, Switzerland and Australia. All the constituent states have
equal power and are strong vis-a-vis the federal government.
(ii) ‘Holding together’
federations — In this agreement, a large country decides to divide its power
between the constituent States and the national government. The Central
Governments tend to be more powerful vis-a-vis the states. Often different
constituent units of the federation have unequal powers. Some units are granted
special powers, for example, India granted special powers to Jammu & Kashmir.
Other examples are Spain and Belgium.
14. Which five provisions of the
constitutional amendment of 1992 really strengthened the third tier of
democracy in India? Explain. (2015, 2013, 2012)
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation and strengthening of third tier
taken in 1992 were:
1.
Now it is
constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government
bodies.
2.
Seats are
reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other
backward classes (OBCs).
3.
Atleast
one-third of all positions and seats are reserved for women.
4.
An independent
institution called the State Election Commission was created to conduct
Panchayat and Municipal elections.
5.
The State
Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
15. Why has federalism succeeded in India?
Which are the policies adopted by India that have ensured it? Explain.
Answer: Reasons for success of federalism in India are:
1.
Clearly laid
out Constitutional Provisions providing a three-fold distribution of powers in
the three lists—Union List, State List and Concurrent List—between the Union
Government and State Governments.
2.
The nature of
democratic politics in our country which ensures that the spirit of federalism,
respect for diversity and desire for living together became a shared ideal.
3.
The creation of
linguistic states. Boundaries of several old states of India were changed in
order to create new states. This was done to ensure that people who spoke the
same language lived in the same state. Later some states were created to
recognise differences based on culture, ethnicity or geography.
For example: Nagaland, Uttrakhand, Jharkhand, Telangana, etc.
4.
Restricting
Centre-State relations. The constitutional arrangements for sharing power work
depending on how the ruling parties and leaders follow these arrangements. For
a long time, the same party ruled both at the Centre and in most of states. Post-1990
saw the rise of regional parties. Since no single party got a clear majority in
the Lok Sabha, the national parties had to enter into an alliance which led to
a new culture of power sharing and respect for autonomy of State Governments.
16. Explain any five features of federalism.
(2015)
Answer: Features of federalism:
1.
There are two
or more levels of government.
2.
Different
levels of government govern the same citizens, where each level has its own
jurisdiction in specific matters of legislation, taxation and administration.
3.
Existence and
authority of each level of government is constitutionally governed.
4.
The fundamental
provisions of the Constitution cannot be unilaterally changed. Such changes
require the consent of both the levels of government.
5.
Courts have the
power to interpret the Constitution and powers of the different levels of
government. The highest court acts as the umpire if any dispute arises between
different levels of governments.
6.
Sources of
revenue for each level of government are specified to ensure its financial
autonomy.
7.
Federal system
has dual objectives. To safeguard and promote unity of the country, and to
accommodate regional diversity.
17. Describe the three forms of power sharing
among different organs of government in India. (2014)
Answer: The Constitution declared India as a Union of States based on the
principles of federalism. The Constitution originally provided for a two-tier
system of government, the Union or the Central Government representing Union of
India and the State Governments. Later, a third tier was added in the form of
Panchayats and Municipalities.
As in any federation, these
different tiers enjoyed separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provided a
three-fold distribution of legislative powers:
1.
Union List
includes subjects of national importance, i.e., defence of the country, foreign
affairs, banking, communications and currency.
2.
State List
contains subjects of state and local importance, i.e., police, trade, commerce,
agriculture and irrigation.
3.
Concurrent List
includes subjects of common interest to both the Union Government as well as
the State Governments, i.e., education, forests, trade unions, marriages,
adoption and succession.
In case of dispute, law made by the Union Government shall prevail.
4.
Residuary—Subjects
which do not fall in any of the three lists, i.e., computer software, etc.
Union Government has the power to legislate such subjects.
As India is an example of
‘holding together’ federation, all states in the Indian Union do not have
identical powers. Some states enjoy special status such as Jammu & Kashmir.
There are some states too small to become independent like the Union
Territories of Chandigarh and Lakshadweep.
This sharing of power
between the Union Government and State Governments is basic to the structure of
the Constitution. Any change to it, has to be passed by both the Houses of the
Parliament with at least two-third majority.
The judiciary plays an
important role in the implementation of constitutional procedures. In case of
any dispute about division of powers, the High Courts and the Supreme Court
make a decision.
18. Describe in brief the language policy of
India?
Answer: Our Constitution did not give the status of national language to any
one language.
1.
The formation
of linguistic states united the country and made administration easier.
2.
The leaders of
our country adopted a very cautious attitude in spreading the use of Hindi.
Hindi was identified as official language.
3.
The banning of
use of English for official purposes in 1965 took a violent form in Tamil Nadu.
The Central Government responded by agreeing to continue the use of English
along with Hindi for official purposes.
4.
Promotion of
Hindi is an official policy of the Government of India but it does not impose
Hindi on states where people speak a different language.
5.
Besides Hindi,
there are 21 other languages recognised as scheduled languages by the
Constitution.
6.
This
flexibility shown by Indian leaders helped our country avoid the situation that
Sri Lanka finds itself in.
19. What were the major steps taken to make
decentralisation more effective?
Or
What amendments were made in the Constitution in order to make the third tier
of democracy (Local Government) more powerful and effective?
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation taken
in 1992 are:
1.
Now it is
constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government bodies.
2.
Seats are
reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other
backward classes (OBCs).
3.
Atleast
one-third of all positions are reserved for women.
4.
The State
Election Commission was created to conduct Panchayat and Municipal elections.
5.
The State
Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
20. Explain the structure of the new Panchayati Raj
institutions, both in rural and urban areas.
Answer: Rural Local Government is known by the name of Panachayati Raj/
Democratic decentralization.
Each village or group of
villages has a Gram Panchayat.
Panch, President or
Sarpanch are directly elected by all the adult population of the village and is
the decision-making body.
The Panchayat works under
the supervision of Gram Sabha, with all the voters as its members.
The local structure goes up
to the district level—a group of Gram Panchayats form a Panchayat Samiti or
Block or Mandal.
All the Panchayat Samitis
or Mandals together constitute the Zilla Parishad which consists of elected
members.
Lok Sabha members, Local
MLAs and officers are also members of the Zilla Parishad.
Its Chairperson is the
political head of the Parishad.
Urban areas local bodies.
Municipalities are set up
in towns.
Big cities are constituted
into Municipal Corporations.
Both are controlled by
elected bodies consisting of people’s representatives.
Municipal chairperson is
the political head of the Municipality.
The head of Municipal Corporation is an officer called the Mayor.
21. How is federal power sharing more effective today
than in the early years? Explain.
Answer: Federal power sharing is more effective because of the nature of
democratic politics in India. It has ensured that the spirit of federalism,
respect for diversity and desire for living together have become a shared ideal
in our country.
Federal power sharing has
helped to inculcate a habit of democratic participation. Federal power sharing
is the best way to realise one important principle of democracy, namely local
self-government. Constitutional status for local government has helped to
deepen democracy.
It has increased women’s
representation and voice in democracy.
Federal power sharing has
led to formation of linguistic states which has actually made the country more
united. It has also made administration easier.
It reduces the power of the
Central government and gives power to regional governments.
(a) Period after 1990
(b) Period after 2000
(c) Period after 1980
(d) Period after 197016. Which language is recognised as the national
language by the Constitution of India?
(a) Hindi
(b) English
(c) Tamil
(d) None of these17. Which state of India enjoys a special status and
has its own Constitution?
(a) Bihar
(b) Uttar Pradesh
(c) Kerala
(d) Jammu and Kashmir18. Which of the following subjects is not included in
the Union list?
(a) Defence
(b) Foreign affairs
(c) Police
(d) Banking19.
Which of the following is not an example of
‘holding together’ federations?
(a) India
(b) Spain
(c) Belgium
(d) Switzerland20.
Which level of government in India has the power to
legislate on the ‘residuary’ subjects?
(a) Union government
(b) State government
(c) Local self-government
(d) Both a and b
Answers
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
B
d
d
A
b
c
c
b
a
b
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
C
c
d
C
a
B
d
c
d
a
1. Which state in India has its own
Constitution? (2012)
Answer: Jammu and Kashmir
2.What is Rural local self government
popularly known as? (2013)
Answer: Panchayati Raj
3.Which local body has a ‘Mayor’ as its
head? (2014)
Answer: Head of Municipal Corporation is a Mayor.
4. What other factors besides politics keep
the federations united? (2015)
Answer: Besides politics, other factors which keep the federations united
are culture, ideology and history. Culture of trust, cooperation, mutual
respect and restraint has also helped in the smooth functioning of nations.
5. What was the main objective of the
Constitutional Amendment made in 1992 in India? (2015)
Answer: The main objective of the Constitutional Amendment in 1992 was to
strengthen the three-tier system of governance, i.e., make the Panchayati Raj
Institution and the urban local bodies more powerful and effective.
6. What status has been given to the
‘Hindi’ language by the Constitution of India?
Answer: Hindi has been given the status of ‘Official language’ by the
Constitution of India.
7. Much of the official work in Indian States
is done in which language? (2014)
Answer: Much of the official work in Indian States
is done in the official language of the concerned state.
8. What is 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. This
vertical division of power among different levels of governments is referred to
as federalism.
9. Name the subject list from which both
the Union and the State governments can make laws?
Answer: Concurrent List
10. Explain the
vertical division of power by giving examples from India. (2013)
Answer: When power is shared among governments at
different levels, i.e., the Union or the Central Government, the State
Government and the Municipality and Panchayat at the lower level. This division
of power involving higher and lower levels of government is called the vertical
division of power.
Vertical division of power in India:
The Constitution declares India
as a Union of States. Although the word ‘Federation’ is not used, the Indian
Union is based on the principles of federation. The Constitution originally
provided for a two-tier system of government, the Union Government or the
Central Government representing Union of India and the State Governments.
A third-tier of federation
was added in the form of Panchayats and Municipalities. As in any federation,
these different tiers enjoy separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provides
for a three-fold distribution of legislative powers between the Union
Government and State Government. It contains three lists:
Union List (97 Subjects)
State List (66 Subjects)
Concurrent List (47
Subjects)
10. Why is decentralisation favoured in democracy?
Identify any two reasons.
Answer: Five advantages of decentralisation of
power:
When power is taken away
from Central and State Governments and given to local governments, it is called
decentralisation. The basic idea behind decentralisation is that there are a
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.
The need for
decentralisation was recognised in our Constitution. A major step towards
decentralisation was taken in 1992. The Constitution was amended to make the
third tier of democracy more powerful and effective.
12. India comes under which type of federation
and why? (2014)
Answer: 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. 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.
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 & Kashmir.
13. State two agreements through which
federations have been formed. Give an example of each.
Answer: (i) ‘Coming together’ federations—This agreement induces independent
states coming together on their own to form a bigger unit, so that by pooling
sovereignty and retaining identity they can increase their security.
Examples are: USA, Switzerland and Australia. All the constituent states have
equal power and are strong vis-a-vis the federal government.
(ii) ‘Holding together’
federations — In this agreement, a large country decides to divide its power
between the constituent States and the national government. The Central
Governments tend to be more powerful vis-a-vis the states. Often different
constituent units of the federation have unequal powers. Some units are granted
special powers, for example, India granted special powers to Jammu & Kashmir.
Other examples are Spain and Belgium.
14. Which five provisions of the
constitutional amendment of 1992 really strengthened the third tier of
democracy in India? Explain. (2015, 2013, 2012)
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation and strengthening of third tier
taken in 1992 were:
1.
Now it is
constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government
bodies.
2.
Seats are
reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other
backward classes (OBCs).
3.
Atleast
one-third of all positions and seats are reserved for women.
4.
An independent
institution called the State Election Commission was created to conduct
Panchayat and Municipal elections.
5.
The State
Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
15. Why has federalism succeeded in India?
Which are the policies adopted by India that have ensured it? Explain.
Answer: Reasons for success of federalism in India are:
1.
Clearly laid
out Constitutional Provisions providing a three-fold distribution of powers in
the three lists—Union List, State List and Concurrent List—between the Union
Government and State Governments.
2.
The nature of
democratic politics in our country which ensures that the spirit of federalism,
respect for diversity and desire for living together became a shared ideal.
3.
The creation of
linguistic states. Boundaries of several old states of India were changed in
order to create new states. This was done to ensure that people who spoke the
same language lived in the same state. Later some states were created to
recognise differences based on culture, ethnicity or geography.
For example: Nagaland, Uttrakhand, Jharkhand, Telangana, etc.
4.
Restricting
Centre-State relations. The constitutional arrangements for sharing power work
depending on how the ruling parties and leaders follow these arrangements. For
a long time, the same party ruled both at the Centre and in most of states. Post-1990
saw the rise of regional parties. Since no single party got a clear majority in
the Lok Sabha, the national parties had to enter into an alliance which led to
a new culture of power sharing and respect for autonomy of State Governments.
16. Explain any five features of federalism.
(2015)
Answer: Features of federalism:
1.
There are two
or more levels of government.
2.
Different
levels of government govern the same citizens, where each level has its own
jurisdiction in specific matters of legislation, taxation and administration.
3.
Existence and
authority of each level of government is constitutionally governed.
4.
The fundamental
provisions of the Constitution cannot be unilaterally changed. Such changes
require the consent of both the levels of government.
5.
Courts have the
power to interpret the Constitution and powers of the different levels of
government. The highest court acts as the umpire if any dispute arises between
different levels of governments.
6.
Sources of
revenue for each level of government are specified to ensure its financial
autonomy.
7.
Federal system
has dual objectives. To safeguard and promote unity of the country, and to
accommodate regional diversity.
17. Describe the three forms of power sharing
among different organs of government in India. (2014)
Answer: The Constitution declared India as a Union of States based on the
principles of federalism. The Constitution originally provided for a two-tier
system of government, the Union or the Central Government representing Union of
India and the State Governments. Later, a third tier was added in the form of
Panchayats and Municipalities.
As in any federation, these
different tiers enjoyed separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provided a
three-fold distribution of legislative powers:
1.
Union List
includes subjects of national importance, i.e., defence of the country, foreign
affairs, banking, communications and currency.
2.
State List
contains subjects of state and local importance, i.e., police, trade, commerce,
agriculture and irrigation.
3.
Concurrent List
includes subjects of common interest to both the Union Government as well as
the State Governments, i.e., education, forests, trade unions, marriages,
adoption and succession.
In case of dispute, law made by the Union Government shall prevail.
4.
Residuary—Subjects
which do not fall in any of the three lists, i.e., computer software, etc.
Union Government has the power to legislate such subjects.
As India is an example of
‘holding together’ federation, all states in the Indian Union do not have
identical powers. Some states enjoy special status such as Jammu & Kashmir.
There are some states too small to become independent like the Union
Territories of Chandigarh and Lakshadweep.
This sharing of power
between the Union Government and State Governments is basic to the structure of
the Constitution. Any change to it, has to be passed by both the Houses of the
Parliament with at least two-third majority.
The judiciary plays an
important role in the implementation of constitutional procedures. In case of
any dispute about division of powers, the High Courts and the Supreme Court
make a decision.
18. Describe in brief the language policy of
India?
Answer: Our Constitution did not give the status of national language to any
one language.
1.
The formation
of linguistic states united the country and made administration easier.
2.
The leaders of
our country adopted a very cautious attitude in spreading the use of Hindi.
Hindi was identified as official language.
3.
The banning of
use of English for official purposes in 1965 took a violent form in Tamil Nadu.
The Central Government responded by agreeing to continue the use of English
along with Hindi for official purposes.
4.
Promotion of
Hindi is an official policy of the Government of India but it does not impose
Hindi on states where people speak a different language.
5.
Besides Hindi,
there are 21 other languages recognised as scheduled languages by the
Constitution.
6.
This
flexibility shown by Indian leaders helped our country avoid the situation that
Sri Lanka finds itself in.
19. What were the major steps taken to make
decentralisation more effective?
Or
What amendments were made in the Constitution in order to make the third tier
of democracy (Local Government) more powerful and effective?
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation taken
in 1992 are:
1.
Now it is
constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government bodies.
2.
Seats are
reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other
backward classes (OBCs).
3.
Atleast
one-third of all positions are reserved for women.
4.
The State
Election Commission was created to conduct Panchayat and Municipal elections.
5.
The State
Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
20. Explain the structure of the new Panchayati Raj
institutions, both in rural and urban areas.
Answer: Rural Local Government is known by the name of Panachayati Raj/
Democratic decentralization.
Each village or group of
villages has a Gram Panchayat.
Panch, President or
Sarpanch are directly elected by all the adult population of the village and is
the decision-making body.
The Panchayat works under
the supervision of Gram Sabha, with all the voters as its members.
The local structure goes up
to the district level—a group of Gram Panchayats form a Panchayat Samiti or
Block or Mandal.
All the Panchayat Samitis
or Mandals together constitute the Zilla Parishad which consists of elected
members.
Lok Sabha members, Local
MLAs and officers are also members of the Zilla Parishad.
Its Chairperson is the
political head of the Parishad.
Urban areas local bodies.
Municipalities are set up
in towns.
Big cities are constituted
into Municipal Corporations.
Both are controlled by
elected bodies consisting of people’s representatives.
Municipal chairperson is
the political head of the Municipality.
The head of Municipal Corporation is an officer called the Mayor.
21. How is federal power sharing more effective today
than in the early years? Explain.
Answer: Federal power sharing is more effective because of the nature of
democratic politics in India. It has ensured that the spirit of federalism,
respect for diversity and desire for living together have become a shared ideal
in our country.
Federal power sharing has
helped to inculcate a habit of democratic participation. Federal power sharing
is the best way to realise one important principle of democracy, namely local
self-government. Constitutional status for local government has helped to
deepen democracy.
It has increased women’s
representation and voice in democracy.
Federal power sharing has
led to formation of linguistic states which has actually made the country more
united. It has also made administration easier.
It reduces the power of the
Central government and gives power to regional governments.
(a) Hindi
(b) English
(c) Tamil
(d) None of these17. Which state of India enjoys a special status and
has its own Constitution?
(a) Bihar
(b) Uttar Pradesh
(c) Kerala
(d) Jammu and Kashmir18. Which of the following subjects is not included in
the Union list?
(a) Defence
(b) Foreign affairs
(c) Police
(d) Banking19.
Which of the following is not an example of
‘holding together’ federations?
(a) India
(b) Spain
(c) Belgium
(d) Switzerland20.
Which level of government in India has the power to
legislate on the ‘residuary’ subjects?
(a) Union government
(b) State government
(c) Local self-government
(d) Both a and b
Answers
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
B
d
d
A
b
c
c
b
a
b
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
C
c
d
C
a
B
d
c
d
a
1. Which state in India has its own
Constitution? (2012)
Answer: Jammu and Kashmir
2.What is Rural local self government
popularly known as? (2013)
Answer: Panchayati Raj
3.Which local body has a ‘Mayor’ as its
head? (2014)
Answer: Head of Municipal Corporation is a Mayor.
4. What other factors besides politics keep
the federations united? (2015)
Answer: Besides politics, other factors which keep the federations united
are culture, ideology and history. Culture of trust, cooperation, mutual
respect and restraint has also helped in the smooth functioning of nations.
5. What was the main objective of the
Constitutional Amendment made in 1992 in India? (2015)
Answer: The main objective of the Constitutional Amendment in 1992 was to
strengthen the three-tier system of governance, i.e., make the Panchayati Raj
Institution and the urban local bodies more powerful and effective.
6. What status has been given to the
‘Hindi’ language by the Constitution of India?
Answer: Hindi has been given the status of ‘Official language’ by the
Constitution of India.
7. Much of the official work in Indian States
is done in which language? (2014)
Answer: Much of the official work in Indian States
is done in the official language of the concerned state.
8. What is 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. This
vertical division of power among different levels of governments is referred to
as federalism.
9. Name the subject list from which both
the Union and the State governments can make laws?
Answer: Concurrent List
10. Explain the
vertical division of power by giving examples from India. (2013)
Answer: When power is shared among governments at
different levels, i.e., the Union or the Central Government, the State
Government and the Municipality and Panchayat at the lower level. This division
of power involving higher and lower levels of government is called the vertical
division of power.
Vertical division of power in India:
The Constitution declares India
as a Union of States. Although the word ‘Federation’ is not used, the Indian
Union is based on the principles of federation. The Constitution originally
provided for a two-tier system of government, the Union Government or the
Central Government representing Union of India and the State Governments.
A third-tier of federation
was added in the form of Panchayats and Municipalities. As in any federation,
these different tiers enjoy separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provides
for a three-fold distribution of legislative powers between the Union
Government and State Government. It contains three lists:
Union List (97 Subjects)
State List (66 Subjects)
Concurrent List (47
Subjects)
10. Why is decentralisation favoured in democracy?
Identify any two reasons.
Answer: Five advantages of decentralisation of
power:
When power is taken away
from Central and State Governments and given to local governments, it is called
decentralisation. The basic idea behind decentralisation is that there are a
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.
The need for
decentralisation was recognised in our Constitution. A major step towards
decentralisation was taken in 1992. The Constitution was amended to make the
third tier of democracy more powerful and effective.
12. India comes under which type of federation
and why? (2014)
Answer: 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. 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.
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 & Kashmir.
13. State two agreements through which
federations have been formed. Give an example of each.
Answer: (i) ‘Coming together’ federations—This agreement induces independent
states coming together on their own to form a bigger unit, so that by pooling
sovereignty and retaining identity they can increase their security.
Examples are: USA, Switzerland and Australia. All the constituent states have
equal power and are strong vis-a-vis the federal government.
(ii) ‘Holding together’
federations — In this agreement, a large country decides to divide its power
between the constituent States and the national government. The Central
Governments tend to be more powerful vis-a-vis the states. Often different
constituent units of the federation have unequal powers. Some units are granted
special powers, for example, India granted special powers to Jammu & Kashmir.
Other examples are Spain and Belgium.
14. Which five provisions of the
constitutional amendment of 1992 really strengthened the third tier of
democracy in India? Explain. (2015, 2013, 2012)
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation and strengthening of third tier
taken in 1992 were:
1.
Now it is
constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government
bodies.
2.
Seats are
reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other
backward classes (OBCs).
3.
Atleast
one-third of all positions and seats are reserved for women.
4.
An independent
institution called the State Election Commission was created to conduct
Panchayat and Municipal elections.
5.
The State
Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
15. Why has federalism succeeded in India?
Which are the policies adopted by India that have ensured it? Explain.
Answer: Reasons for success of federalism in India are:
1.
Clearly laid
out Constitutional Provisions providing a three-fold distribution of powers in
the three lists—Union List, State List and Concurrent List—between the Union
Government and State Governments.
2.
The nature of
democratic politics in our country which ensures that the spirit of federalism,
respect for diversity and desire for living together became a shared ideal.
3.
The creation of
linguistic states. Boundaries of several old states of India were changed in
order to create new states. This was done to ensure that people who spoke the
same language lived in the same state. Later some states were created to
recognise differences based on culture, ethnicity or geography.
For example: Nagaland, Uttrakhand, Jharkhand, Telangana, etc.
4.
Restricting
Centre-State relations. The constitutional arrangements for sharing power work
depending on how the ruling parties and leaders follow these arrangements. For
a long time, the same party ruled both at the Centre and in most of states. Post-1990
saw the rise of regional parties. Since no single party got a clear majority in
the Lok Sabha, the national parties had to enter into an alliance which led to
a new culture of power sharing and respect for autonomy of State Governments.
16. Explain any five features of federalism.
(2015)
Answer: Features of federalism:
1.
There are two
or more levels of government.
2.
Different
levels of government govern the same citizens, where each level has its own
jurisdiction in specific matters of legislation, taxation and administration.
3.
Existence and
authority of each level of government is constitutionally governed.
4.
The fundamental
provisions of the Constitution cannot be unilaterally changed. Such changes
require the consent of both the levels of government.
5.
Courts have the
power to interpret the Constitution and powers of the different levels of
government. The highest court acts as the umpire if any dispute arises between
different levels of governments.
6.
Sources of
revenue for each level of government are specified to ensure its financial
autonomy.
7.
Federal system
has dual objectives. To safeguard and promote unity of the country, and to
accommodate regional diversity.
17. Describe the three forms of power sharing
among different organs of government in India. (2014)
Answer: The Constitution declared India as a Union of States based on the
principles of federalism. The Constitution originally provided for a two-tier
system of government, the Union or the Central Government representing Union of
India and the State Governments. Later, a third tier was added in the form of
Panchayats and Municipalities.
As in any federation, these
different tiers enjoyed separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provided a
three-fold distribution of legislative powers:
1.
Union List
includes subjects of national importance, i.e., defence of the country, foreign
affairs, banking, communications and currency.
2.
State List
contains subjects of state and local importance, i.e., police, trade, commerce,
agriculture and irrigation.
3.
Concurrent List
includes subjects of common interest to both the Union Government as well as
the State Governments, i.e., education, forests, trade unions, marriages,
adoption and succession.
In case of dispute, law made by the Union Government shall prevail.
4.
Residuary—Subjects
which do not fall in any of the three lists, i.e., computer software, etc.
Union Government has the power to legislate such subjects.
As India is an example of
‘holding together’ federation, all states in the Indian Union do not have
identical powers. Some states enjoy special status such as Jammu & Kashmir.
There are some states too small to become independent like the Union
Territories of Chandigarh and Lakshadweep.
This sharing of power
between the Union Government and State Governments is basic to the structure of
the Constitution. Any change to it, has to be passed by both the Houses of the
Parliament with at least two-third majority.
The judiciary plays an
important role in the implementation of constitutional procedures. In case of
any dispute about division of powers, the High Courts and the Supreme Court
make a decision.
18. Describe in brief the language policy of
India?
Answer: Our Constitution did not give the status of national language to any
one language.
1.
The formation
of linguistic states united the country and made administration easier.
2.
The leaders of
our country adopted a very cautious attitude in spreading the use of Hindi.
Hindi was identified as official language.
3.
The banning of
use of English for official purposes in 1965 took a violent form in Tamil Nadu.
The Central Government responded by agreeing to continue the use of English
along with Hindi for official purposes.
4.
Promotion of
Hindi is an official policy of the Government of India but it does not impose
Hindi on states where people speak a different language.
5.
Besides Hindi,
there are 21 other languages recognised as scheduled languages by the
Constitution.
6.
This
flexibility shown by Indian leaders helped our country avoid the situation that
Sri Lanka finds itself in.
19. What were the major steps taken to make
decentralisation more effective?
Or
What amendments were made in the Constitution in order to make the third tier
of democracy (Local Government) more powerful and effective?
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation taken
in 1992 are:
1.
Now it is
constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government bodies.
2.
Seats are
reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other
backward classes (OBCs).
3.
Atleast
one-third of all positions are reserved for women.
4.
The State
Election Commission was created to conduct Panchayat and Municipal elections.
5.
The State
Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
20. Explain the structure of the new Panchayati Raj
institutions, both in rural and urban areas.
Answer: Rural Local Government is known by the name of Panachayati Raj/
Democratic decentralization.
Each village or group of
villages has a Gram Panchayat.
Panch, President or
Sarpanch are directly elected by all the adult population of the village and is
the decision-making body.
The Panchayat works under
the supervision of Gram Sabha, with all the voters as its members.
The local structure goes up
to the district level—a group of Gram Panchayats form a Panchayat Samiti or
Block or Mandal.
All the Panchayat Samitis
or Mandals together constitute the Zilla Parishad which consists of elected
members.
Lok Sabha members, Local
MLAs and officers are also members of the Zilla Parishad.
Its Chairperson is the
political head of the Parishad.
Urban areas local bodies.
Municipalities are set up
in towns.
Big cities are constituted
into Municipal Corporations.
Both are controlled by
elected bodies consisting of people’s representatives.
Municipal chairperson is
the political head of the Municipality.
The head of Municipal Corporation is an officer called the Mayor.
21. How is federal power sharing more effective today
than in the early years? Explain.
Answer: Federal power sharing is more effective because of the nature of
democratic politics in India. It has ensured that the spirit of federalism,
respect for diversity and desire for living together have become a shared ideal
in our country.
Federal power sharing has
helped to inculcate a habit of democratic participation. Federal power sharing
is the best way to realise one important principle of democracy, namely local
self-government. Constitutional status for local government has helped to
deepen democracy.
It has increased women’s
representation and voice in democracy.
Federal power sharing has
led to formation of linguistic states which has actually made the country more
united. It has also made administration easier.
It reduces the power of the
Central government and gives power to regional governments.
(a) Bihar
(b) Uttar Pradesh
(c) Kerala
(d) Jammu and Kashmir18. Which of the following subjects is not included in
the Union list?
(a) Defence
(b) Foreign affairs
(c) Police
(d) Banking19.
Which of the following is not an example of
‘holding together’ federations?
(a) India
(b) Spain
(c) Belgium
(d) Switzerland20.
Which level of government in India has the power to
legislate on the ‘residuary’ subjects?
(a) Union government
(b) State government
(c) Local self-government
(d) Both a and b
Answers
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
B
d
d
A
b
c
c
b
a
b
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
C
c
d
C
a
B
d
c
d
a
1. Which state in India has its own
Constitution? (2012)
Answer: Jammu and Kashmir
2.What is Rural local self government
popularly known as? (2013)
Answer: Panchayati Raj
3.Which local body has a ‘Mayor’ as its
head? (2014)
Answer: Head of Municipal Corporation is a Mayor.
4. What other factors besides politics keep
the federations united? (2015)
Answer: Besides politics, other factors which keep the federations united
are culture, ideology and history. Culture of trust, cooperation, mutual
respect and restraint has also helped in the smooth functioning of nations.
5. What was the main objective of the
Constitutional Amendment made in 1992 in India? (2015)
Answer: The main objective of the Constitutional Amendment in 1992 was to
strengthen the three-tier system of governance, i.e., make the Panchayati Raj
Institution and the urban local bodies more powerful and effective.
6. What status has been given to the
‘Hindi’ language by the Constitution of India?
Answer: Hindi has been given the status of ‘Official language’ by the
Constitution of India.
7. Much of the official work in Indian States
is done in which language? (2014)
Answer: Much of the official work in Indian States
is done in the official language of the concerned state.
8. What is 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. This
vertical division of power among different levels of governments is referred to
as federalism.
9. Name the subject list from which both
the Union and the State governments can make laws?
Answer: Concurrent List
10. Explain the
vertical division of power by giving examples from India. (2013)
Answer: When power is shared among governments at
different levels, i.e., the Union or the Central Government, the State
Government and the Municipality and Panchayat at the lower level. This division
of power involving higher and lower levels of government is called the vertical
division of power.
Vertical division of power in India:
The Constitution declares India
as a Union of States. Although the word ‘Federation’ is not used, the Indian
Union is based on the principles of federation. The Constitution originally
provided for a two-tier system of government, the Union Government or the
Central Government representing Union of India and the State Governments.
A third-tier of federation
was added in the form of Panchayats and Municipalities. As in any federation,
these different tiers enjoy separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provides
for a three-fold distribution of legislative powers between the Union
Government and State Government. It contains three lists:
Union List (97 Subjects)
State List (66 Subjects)
Concurrent List (47
Subjects)
10. Why is decentralisation favoured in democracy?
Identify any two reasons.
Answer: Five advantages of decentralisation of
power:
When power is taken away
from Central and State Governments and given to local governments, it is called
decentralisation. The basic idea behind decentralisation is that there are a
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.
The need for
decentralisation was recognised in our Constitution. A major step towards
decentralisation was taken in 1992. The Constitution was amended to make the
third tier of democracy more powerful and effective.
12. India comes under which type of federation
and why? (2014)
Answer: 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. 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.
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 & Kashmir.
13. State two agreements through which
federations have been formed. Give an example of each.
Answer: (i) ‘Coming together’ federations—This agreement induces independent
states coming together on their own to form a bigger unit, so that by pooling
sovereignty and retaining identity they can increase their security.
Examples are: USA, Switzerland and Australia. All the constituent states have
equal power and are strong vis-a-vis the federal government.
(ii) ‘Holding together’
federations — In this agreement, a large country decides to divide its power
between the constituent States and the national government. The Central
Governments tend to be more powerful vis-a-vis the states. Often different
constituent units of the federation have unequal powers. Some units are granted
special powers, for example, India granted special powers to Jammu & Kashmir.
Other examples are Spain and Belgium.
14. Which five provisions of the
constitutional amendment of 1992 really strengthened the third tier of
democracy in India? Explain. (2015, 2013, 2012)
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation and strengthening of third tier
taken in 1992 were:
1.
Now it is
constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government
bodies.
2.
Seats are
reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other
backward classes (OBCs).
3.
Atleast
one-third of all positions and seats are reserved for women.
4.
An independent
institution called the State Election Commission was created to conduct
Panchayat and Municipal elections.
5.
The State
Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
15. Why has federalism succeeded in India?
Which are the policies adopted by India that have ensured it? Explain.
Answer: Reasons for success of federalism in India are:
1.
Clearly laid
out Constitutional Provisions providing a three-fold distribution of powers in
the three lists—Union List, State List and Concurrent List—between the Union
Government and State Governments.
2.
The nature of
democratic politics in our country which ensures that the spirit of federalism,
respect for diversity and desire for living together became a shared ideal.
3.
The creation of
linguistic states. Boundaries of several old states of India were changed in
order to create new states. This was done to ensure that people who spoke the
same language lived in the same state. Later some states were created to
recognise differences based on culture, ethnicity or geography.
For example: Nagaland, Uttrakhand, Jharkhand, Telangana, etc.
4.
Restricting
Centre-State relations. The constitutional arrangements for sharing power work
depending on how the ruling parties and leaders follow these arrangements. For
a long time, the same party ruled both at the Centre and in most of states. Post-1990
saw the rise of regional parties. Since no single party got a clear majority in
the Lok Sabha, the national parties had to enter into an alliance which led to
a new culture of power sharing and respect for autonomy of State Governments.
16. Explain any five features of federalism.
(2015)
Answer: Features of federalism:
1.
There are two
or more levels of government.
2.
Different
levels of government govern the same citizens, where each level has its own
jurisdiction in specific matters of legislation, taxation and administration.
3.
Existence and
authority of each level of government is constitutionally governed.
4.
The fundamental
provisions of the Constitution cannot be unilaterally changed. Such changes
require the consent of both the levels of government.
5.
Courts have the
power to interpret the Constitution and powers of the different levels of
government. The highest court acts as the umpire if any dispute arises between
different levels of governments.
6.
Sources of
revenue for each level of government are specified to ensure its financial
autonomy.
7.
Federal system
has dual objectives. To safeguard and promote unity of the country, and to
accommodate regional diversity.
17. Describe the three forms of power sharing
among different organs of government in India. (2014)
Answer: The Constitution declared India as a Union of States based on the
principles of federalism. The Constitution originally provided for a two-tier
system of government, the Union or the Central Government representing Union of
India and the State Governments. Later, a third tier was added in the form of
Panchayats and Municipalities.
As in any federation, these
different tiers enjoyed separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provided a
three-fold distribution of legislative powers:
1.
Union List
includes subjects of national importance, i.e., defence of the country, foreign
affairs, banking, communications and currency.
2.
State List
contains subjects of state and local importance, i.e., police, trade, commerce,
agriculture and irrigation.
3.
Concurrent List
includes subjects of common interest to both the Union Government as well as
the State Governments, i.e., education, forests, trade unions, marriages,
adoption and succession.
In case of dispute, law made by the Union Government shall prevail.
4.
Residuary—Subjects
which do not fall in any of the three lists, i.e., computer software, etc.
Union Government has the power to legislate such subjects.
As India is an example of
‘holding together’ federation, all states in the Indian Union do not have
identical powers. Some states enjoy special status such as Jammu & Kashmir.
There are some states too small to become independent like the Union
Territories of Chandigarh and Lakshadweep.
This sharing of power
between the Union Government and State Governments is basic to the structure of
the Constitution. Any change to it, has to be passed by both the Houses of the
Parliament with at least two-third majority.
The judiciary plays an
important role in the implementation of constitutional procedures. In case of
any dispute about division of powers, the High Courts and the Supreme Court
make a decision.
18. Describe in brief the language policy of
India?
Answer: Our Constitution did not give the status of national language to any
one language.
1.
The formation
of linguistic states united the country and made administration easier.
2.
The leaders of
our country adopted a very cautious attitude in spreading the use of Hindi.
Hindi was identified as official language.
3.
The banning of
use of English for official purposes in 1965 took a violent form in Tamil Nadu.
The Central Government responded by agreeing to continue the use of English
along with Hindi for official purposes.
4.
Promotion of
Hindi is an official policy of the Government of India but it does not impose
Hindi on states where people speak a different language.
5.
Besides Hindi,
there are 21 other languages recognised as scheduled languages by the
Constitution.
6.
This
flexibility shown by Indian leaders helped our country avoid the situation that
Sri Lanka finds itself in.
19. What were the major steps taken to make
decentralisation more effective?
Or
What amendments were made in the Constitution in order to make the third tier
of democracy (Local Government) more powerful and effective?
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation taken
in 1992 are:
1.
Now it is
constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government bodies.
2.
Seats are
reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other
backward classes (OBCs).
3.
Atleast
one-third of all positions are reserved for women.
4.
The State
Election Commission was created to conduct Panchayat and Municipal elections.
5.
The State
Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
20. Explain the structure of the new Panchayati Raj
institutions, both in rural and urban areas.
Answer: Rural Local Government is known by the name of Panachayati Raj/
Democratic decentralization.
Each village or group of
villages has a Gram Panchayat.
Panch, President or
Sarpanch are directly elected by all the adult population of the village and is
the decision-making body.
The Panchayat works under
the supervision of Gram Sabha, with all the voters as its members.
The local structure goes up
to the district level—a group of Gram Panchayats form a Panchayat Samiti or
Block or Mandal.
All the Panchayat Samitis
or Mandals together constitute the Zilla Parishad which consists of elected
members.
Lok Sabha members, Local
MLAs and officers are also members of the Zilla Parishad.
Its Chairperson is the
political head of the Parishad.
Urban areas local bodies.
Municipalities are set up
in towns.
Big cities are constituted
into Municipal Corporations.
Both are controlled by
elected bodies consisting of people’s representatives.
Municipal chairperson is
the political head of the Municipality.
The head of Municipal Corporation is an officer called the Mayor.
21. How is federal power sharing more effective today
than in the early years? Explain.
Answer: Federal power sharing is more effective because of the nature of
democratic politics in India. It has ensured that the spirit of federalism,
respect for diversity and desire for living together have become a shared ideal
in our country.
Federal power sharing has
helped to inculcate a habit of democratic participation. Federal power sharing
is the best way to realise one important principle of democracy, namely local
self-government. Constitutional status for local government has helped to
deepen democracy.
It has increased women’s
representation and voice in democracy.
Federal power sharing has
led to formation of linguistic states which has actually made the country more
united. It has also made administration easier.
It reduces the power of the
Central government and gives power to regional governments.
(a) Defence
(b) Foreign affairs
(c) Police
(d) Banking19.
Which of the following is not an example of
‘holding together’ federations?
(a) India
(b) Spain
(c) Belgium
(d) Switzerland20.
Which level of government in India has the power to
legislate on the ‘residuary’ subjects?
(a) Union government
(b) State government
(c) Local self-government
(d) Both a and b
Answers
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
B
d
d
A
b
c
c
b
a
b
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
C
c
d
C
a
B
d
c
d
a
1. Which state in India has its own
Constitution? (2012)
Answer: Jammu and Kashmir
2.What is Rural local self government
popularly known as? (2013)
Answer: Panchayati Raj
3.Which local body has a ‘Mayor’ as its
head? (2014)
Answer: Head of Municipal Corporation is a Mayor.
4. What other factors besides politics keep
the federations united? (2015)
Answer: Besides politics, other factors which keep the federations united
are culture, ideology and history. Culture of trust, cooperation, mutual
respect and restraint has also helped in the smooth functioning of nations.
5. What was the main objective of the
Constitutional Amendment made in 1992 in India? (2015)
Answer: The main objective of the Constitutional Amendment in 1992 was to
strengthen the three-tier system of governance, i.e., make the Panchayati Raj
Institution and the urban local bodies more powerful and effective.
6. What status has been given to the
‘Hindi’ language by the Constitution of India?
Answer: Hindi has been given the status of ‘Official language’ by the
Constitution of India.
7. Much of the official work in Indian States
is done in which language? (2014)
Answer: Much of the official work in Indian States
is done in the official language of the concerned state.
8. What is 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. This
vertical division of power among different levels of governments is referred to
as federalism.
9. Name the subject list from which both
the Union and the State governments can make laws?
Answer: Concurrent List
10. Explain the
vertical division of power by giving examples from India. (2013)
Answer: When power is shared among governments at
different levels, i.e., the Union or the Central Government, the State
Government and the Municipality and Panchayat at the lower level. This division
of power involving higher and lower levels of government is called the vertical
division of power.
Vertical division of power in India:
The Constitution declares India
as a Union of States. Although the word ‘Federation’ is not used, the Indian
Union is based on the principles of federation. The Constitution originally
provided for a two-tier system of government, the Union Government or the
Central Government representing Union of India and the State Governments.
A third-tier of federation
was added in the form of Panchayats and Municipalities. As in any federation,
these different tiers enjoy separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provides
for a three-fold distribution of legislative powers between the Union
Government and State Government. It contains three lists:
Union List (97 Subjects)
State List (66 Subjects)
Concurrent List (47
Subjects)
10. Why is decentralisation favoured in democracy?
Identify any two reasons.
Answer: Five advantages of decentralisation of
power:
When power is taken away
from Central and State Governments and given to local governments, it is called
decentralisation. The basic idea behind decentralisation is that there are a
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.
The need for
decentralisation was recognised in our Constitution. A major step towards
decentralisation was taken in 1992. The Constitution was amended to make the
third tier of democracy more powerful and effective.
12. India comes under which type of federation
and why? (2014)
Answer: 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. 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.
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 & Kashmir.
13. State two agreements through which
federations have been formed. Give an example of each.
Answer: (i) ‘Coming together’ federations—This agreement induces independent
states coming together on their own to form a bigger unit, so that by pooling
sovereignty and retaining identity they can increase their security.
Examples are: USA, Switzerland and Australia. All the constituent states have
equal power and are strong vis-a-vis the federal government.
(ii) ‘Holding together’
federations — In this agreement, a large country decides to divide its power
between the constituent States and the national government. The Central
Governments tend to be more powerful vis-a-vis the states. Often different
constituent units of the federation have unequal powers. Some units are granted
special powers, for example, India granted special powers to Jammu & Kashmir.
Other examples are Spain and Belgium.
14. Which five provisions of the
constitutional amendment of 1992 really strengthened the third tier of
democracy in India? Explain. (2015, 2013, 2012)
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation and strengthening of third tier
taken in 1992 were:
1.
Now it is
constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government
bodies.
2.
Seats are
reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other
backward classes (OBCs).
3.
Atleast
one-third of all positions and seats are reserved for women.
4.
An independent
institution called the State Election Commission was created to conduct
Panchayat and Municipal elections.
5.
The State
Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
15. Why has federalism succeeded in India?
Which are the policies adopted by India that have ensured it? Explain.
Answer: Reasons for success of federalism in India are:
1.
Clearly laid
out Constitutional Provisions providing a three-fold distribution of powers in
the three lists—Union List, State List and Concurrent List—between the Union
Government and State Governments.
2.
The nature of
democratic politics in our country which ensures that the spirit of federalism,
respect for diversity and desire for living together became a shared ideal.
3.
The creation of
linguistic states. Boundaries of several old states of India were changed in
order to create new states. This was done to ensure that people who spoke the
same language lived in the same state. Later some states were created to
recognise differences based on culture, ethnicity or geography.
For example: Nagaland, Uttrakhand, Jharkhand, Telangana, etc.
4.
Restricting
Centre-State relations. The constitutional arrangements for sharing power work
depending on how the ruling parties and leaders follow these arrangements. For
a long time, the same party ruled both at the Centre and in most of states. Post-1990
saw the rise of regional parties. Since no single party got a clear majority in
the Lok Sabha, the national parties had to enter into an alliance which led to
a new culture of power sharing and respect for autonomy of State Governments.
16. Explain any five features of federalism.
(2015)
Answer: Features of federalism:
1.
There are two
or more levels of government.
2.
Different
levels of government govern the same citizens, where each level has its own
jurisdiction in specific matters of legislation, taxation and administration.
3.
Existence and
authority of each level of government is constitutionally governed.
4.
The fundamental
provisions of the Constitution cannot be unilaterally changed. Such changes
require the consent of both the levels of government.
5.
Courts have the
power to interpret the Constitution and powers of the different levels of
government. The highest court acts as the umpire if any dispute arises between
different levels of governments.
6.
Sources of
revenue for each level of government are specified to ensure its financial
autonomy.
7.
Federal system
has dual objectives. To safeguard and promote unity of the country, and to
accommodate regional diversity.
17. Describe the three forms of power sharing
among different organs of government in India. (2014)
Answer: The Constitution declared India as a Union of States based on the
principles of federalism. The Constitution originally provided for a two-tier
system of government, the Union or the Central Government representing Union of
India and the State Governments. Later, a third tier was added in the form of
Panchayats and Municipalities.
As in any federation, these
different tiers enjoyed separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provided a
three-fold distribution of legislative powers:
1.
Union List
includes subjects of national importance, i.e., defence of the country, foreign
affairs, banking, communications and currency.
2.
State List
contains subjects of state and local importance, i.e., police, trade, commerce,
agriculture and irrigation.
3.
Concurrent List
includes subjects of common interest to both the Union Government as well as
the State Governments, i.e., education, forests, trade unions, marriages,
adoption and succession.
In case of dispute, law made by the Union Government shall prevail.
4.
Residuary—Subjects
which do not fall in any of the three lists, i.e., computer software, etc.
Union Government has the power to legislate such subjects.
As India is an example of
‘holding together’ federation, all states in the Indian Union do not have
identical powers. Some states enjoy special status such as Jammu & Kashmir.
There are some states too small to become independent like the Union
Territories of Chandigarh and Lakshadweep.
This sharing of power
between the Union Government and State Governments is basic to the structure of
the Constitution. Any change to it, has to be passed by both the Houses of the
Parliament with at least two-third majority.
The judiciary plays an
important role in the implementation of constitutional procedures. In case of
any dispute about division of powers, the High Courts and the Supreme Court
make a decision.
18. Describe in brief the language policy of
India?
Answer: Our Constitution did not give the status of national language to any
one language.
1.
The formation
of linguistic states united the country and made administration easier.
2.
The leaders of
our country adopted a very cautious attitude in spreading the use of Hindi.
Hindi was identified as official language.
3.
The banning of
use of English for official purposes in 1965 took a violent form in Tamil Nadu.
The Central Government responded by agreeing to continue the use of English
along with Hindi for official purposes.
4.
Promotion of
Hindi is an official policy of the Government of India but it does not impose
Hindi on states where people speak a different language.
5.
Besides Hindi,
there are 21 other languages recognised as scheduled languages by the
Constitution.
6.
This
flexibility shown by Indian leaders helped our country avoid the situation that
Sri Lanka finds itself in.
19. What were the major steps taken to make
decentralisation more effective?
Or
What amendments were made in the Constitution in order to make the third tier
of democracy (Local Government) more powerful and effective?
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation taken
in 1992 are:
1.
Now it is
constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government bodies.
2.
Seats are
reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other
backward classes (OBCs).
3.
Atleast
one-third of all positions are reserved for women.
4.
The State
Election Commission was created to conduct Panchayat and Municipal elections.
5.
The State
Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
20. Explain the structure of the new Panchayati Raj
institutions, both in rural and urban areas.
Answer: Rural Local Government is known by the name of Panachayati Raj/
Democratic decentralization.
Each village or group of
villages has a Gram Panchayat.
Panch, President or
Sarpanch are directly elected by all the adult population of the village and is
the decision-making body.
The Panchayat works under
the supervision of Gram Sabha, with all the voters as its members.
The local structure goes up
to the district level—a group of Gram Panchayats form a Panchayat Samiti or
Block or Mandal.
All the Panchayat Samitis
or Mandals together constitute the Zilla Parishad which consists of elected
members.
Lok Sabha members, Local
MLAs and officers are also members of the Zilla Parishad.
Its Chairperson is the
political head of the Parishad.
Urban areas local bodies.
Municipalities are set up
in towns.
Big cities are constituted
into Municipal Corporations.
Both are controlled by
elected bodies consisting of people’s representatives.
Municipal chairperson is
the political head of the Municipality.
The head of Municipal Corporation is an officer called the Mayor.
21. How is federal power sharing more effective today
than in the early years? Explain.
Answer: Federal power sharing is more effective because of the nature of
democratic politics in India. It has ensured that the spirit of federalism,
respect for diversity and desire for living together have become a shared ideal
in our country.
Federal power sharing has
helped to inculcate a habit of democratic participation. Federal power sharing
is the best way to realise one important principle of democracy, namely local
self-government. Constitutional status for local government has helped to
deepen democracy.
It has increased women’s
representation and voice in democracy.
Federal power sharing has
led to formation of linguistic states which has actually made the country more
united. It has also made administration easier.
It reduces the power of the
Central government and gives power to regional governments.
Which of the following is not an example of
‘holding together’ federations?
(a) India
(b) Spain
(c) Belgium
(d) Switzerland20.
Which level of government in India has the power to
legislate on the ‘residuary’ subjects?
(a) Union government
(b) State government
(c) Local self-government
(d) Both a and b
Answers
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
B
d
d
A
b
c
c
b
a
b
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
C
c
d
C
a
B
d
c
d
a
1. Which state in India has its own
Constitution? (2012)
Answer: Jammu and Kashmir
2.What is Rural local self government
popularly known as? (2013)
Answer: Panchayati Raj
3.Which local body has a ‘Mayor’ as its
head? (2014)
Answer: Head of Municipal Corporation is a Mayor.
4. What other factors besides politics keep
the federations united? (2015)
Answer: Besides politics, other factors which keep the federations united
are culture, ideology and history. Culture of trust, cooperation, mutual
respect and restraint has also helped in the smooth functioning of nations.
5. What was the main objective of the
Constitutional Amendment made in 1992 in India? (2015)
Answer: The main objective of the Constitutional Amendment in 1992 was to
strengthen the three-tier system of governance, i.e., make the Panchayati Raj
Institution and the urban local bodies more powerful and effective.
6. What status has been given to the
‘Hindi’ language by the Constitution of India?
Answer: Hindi has been given the status of ‘Official language’ by the
Constitution of India.
7. Much of the official work in Indian States
is done in which language? (2014)
Answer: Much of the official work in Indian States
is done in the official language of the concerned state.
8. What is 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. This
vertical division of power among different levels of governments is referred to
as federalism.
9. Name the subject list from which both
the Union and the State governments can make laws?
Answer: Concurrent List
10. Explain the
vertical division of power by giving examples from India. (2013)
Answer: When power is shared among governments at
different levels, i.e., the Union or the Central Government, the State
Government and the Municipality and Panchayat at the lower level. This division
of power involving higher and lower levels of government is called the vertical
division of power.
Vertical division of power in India:
The Constitution declares India
as a Union of States. Although the word ‘Federation’ is not used, the Indian
Union is based on the principles of federation. The Constitution originally
provided for a two-tier system of government, the Union Government or the
Central Government representing Union of India and the State Governments.
A third-tier of federation
was added in the form of Panchayats and Municipalities. As in any federation,
these different tiers enjoy separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provides
for a three-fold distribution of legislative powers between the Union
Government and State Government. It contains three lists:
Union List (97 Subjects)
State List (66 Subjects)
Concurrent List (47
Subjects)
10. Why is decentralisation favoured in democracy?
Identify any two reasons.
Answer: Five advantages of decentralisation of
power:
When power is taken away
from Central and State Governments and given to local governments, it is called
decentralisation. The basic idea behind decentralisation is that there are a
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.
The need for
decentralisation was recognised in our Constitution. A major step towards
decentralisation was taken in 1992. The Constitution was amended to make the
third tier of democracy more powerful and effective.
12. India comes under which type of federation
and why? (2014)
Answer: 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. 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.
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 & Kashmir.
13. State two agreements through which
federations have been formed. Give an example of each.
Answer: (i) ‘Coming together’ federations—This agreement induces independent
states coming together on their own to form a bigger unit, so that by pooling
sovereignty and retaining identity they can increase their security.
Examples are: USA, Switzerland and Australia. All the constituent states have
equal power and are strong vis-a-vis the federal government.
(ii) ‘Holding together’
federations — In this agreement, a large country decides to divide its power
between the constituent States and the national government. The Central
Governments tend to be more powerful vis-a-vis the states. Often different
constituent units of the federation have unequal powers. Some units are granted
special powers, for example, India granted special powers to Jammu & Kashmir.
Other examples are Spain and Belgium.
14. Which five provisions of the
constitutional amendment of 1992 really strengthened the third tier of
democracy in India? Explain. (2015, 2013, 2012)
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation and strengthening of third tier
taken in 1992 were:
1.
Now it is
constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government
bodies.
2.
Seats are
reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other
backward classes (OBCs).
3.
Atleast
one-third of all positions and seats are reserved for women.
4.
An independent
institution called the State Election Commission was created to conduct
Panchayat and Municipal elections.
5.
The State
Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
15. Why has federalism succeeded in India?
Which are the policies adopted by India that have ensured it? Explain.
Answer: Reasons for success of federalism in India are:
1.
Clearly laid
out Constitutional Provisions providing a three-fold distribution of powers in
the three lists—Union List, State List and Concurrent List—between the Union
Government and State Governments.
2.
The nature of
democratic politics in our country which ensures that the spirit of federalism,
respect for diversity and desire for living together became a shared ideal.
3.
The creation of
linguistic states. Boundaries of several old states of India were changed in
order to create new states. This was done to ensure that people who spoke the
same language lived in the same state. Later some states were created to
recognise differences based on culture, ethnicity or geography.
For example: Nagaland, Uttrakhand, Jharkhand, Telangana, etc.
4.
Restricting
Centre-State relations. The constitutional arrangements for sharing power work
depending on how the ruling parties and leaders follow these arrangements. For
a long time, the same party ruled both at the Centre and in most of states. Post-1990
saw the rise of regional parties. Since no single party got a clear majority in
the Lok Sabha, the national parties had to enter into an alliance which led to
a new culture of power sharing and respect for autonomy of State Governments.
16. Explain any five features of federalism.
(2015)
Answer: Features of federalism:
1.
There are two
or more levels of government.
2.
Different
levels of government govern the same citizens, where each level has its own
jurisdiction in specific matters of legislation, taxation and administration.
3.
Existence and
authority of each level of government is constitutionally governed.
4.
The fundamental
provisions of the Constitution cannot be unilaterally changed. Such changes
require the consent of both the levels of government.
5.
Courts have the
power to interpret the Constitution and powers of the different levels of
government. The highest court acts as the umpire if any dispute arises between
different levels of governments.
6.
Sources of
revenue for each level of government are specified to ensure its financial
autonomy.
7.
Federal system
has dual objectives. To safeguard and promote unity of the country, and to
accommodate regional diversity.
17. Describe the three forms of power sharing
among different organs of government in India. (2014)
Answer: The Constitution declared India as a Union of States based on the
principles of federalism. The Constitution originally provided for a two-tier
system of government, the Union or the Central Government representing Union of
India and the State Governments. Later, a third tier was added in the form of
Panchayats and Municipalities.
As in any federation, these
different tiers enjoyed separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provided a
three-fold distribution of legislative powers:
1.
Union List
includes subjects of national importance, i.e., defence of the country, foreign
affairs, banking, communications and currency.
2.
State List
contains subjects of state and local importance, i.e., police, trade, commerce,
agriculture and irrigation.
3.
Concurrent List
includes subjects of common interest to both the Union Government as well as
the State Governments, i.e., education, forests, trade unions, marriages,
adoption and succession.
In case of dispute, law made by the Union Government shall prevail.
4.
Residuary—Subjects
which do not fall in any of the three lists, i.e., computer software, etc.
Union Government has the power to legislate such subjects.
As India is an example of
‘holding together’ federation, all states in the Indian Union do not have
identical powers. Some states enjoy special status such as Jammu & Kashmir.
There are some states too small to become independent like the Union
Territories of Chandigarh and Lakshadweep.
This sharing of power
between the Union Government and State Governments is basic to the structure of
the Constitution. Any change to it, has to be passed by both the Houses of the
Parliament with at least two-third majority.
The judiciary plays an
important role in the implementation of constitutional procedures. In case of
any dispute about division of powers, the High Courts and the Supreme Court
make a decision.
18. Describe in brief the language policy of
India?
Answer: Our Constitution did not give the status of national language to any
one language.
1.
The formation
of linguistic states united the country and made administration easier.
2.
The leaders of
our country adopted a very cautious attitude in spreading the use of Hindi.
Hindi was identified as official language.
3.
The banning of
use of English for official purposes in 1965 took a violent form in Tamil Nadu.
The Central Government responded by agreeing to continue the use of English
along with Hindi for official purposes.
4.
Promotion of
Hindi is an official policy of the Government of India but it does not impose
Hindi on states where people speak a different language.
5.
Besides Hindi,
there are 21 other languages recognised as scheduled languages by the
Constitution.
6.
This
flexibility shown by Indian leaders helped our country avoid the situation that
Sri Lanka finds itself in.
19. What were the major steps taken to make
decentralisation more effective?
Or
What amendments were made in the Constitution in order to make the third tier
of democracy (Local Government) more powerful and effective?
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation taken
in 1992 are:
1.
Now it is
constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government bodies.
2.
Seats are
reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other
backward classes (OBCs).
3.
Atleast
one-third of all positions are reserved for women.
4.
The State
Election Commission was created to conduct Panchayat and Municipal elections.
5.
The State
Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
20. Explain the structure of the new Panchayati Raj
institutions, both in rural and urban areas.
Answer: Rural Local Government is known by the name of Panachayati Raj/
Democratic decentralization.
Each village or group of
villages has a Gram Panchayat.
Panch, President or
Sarpanch are directly elected by all the adult population of the village and is
the decision-making body.
The Panchayat works under
the supervision of Gram Sabha, with all the voters as its members.
The local structure goes up
to the district level—a group of Gram Panchayats form a Panchayat Samiti or
Block or Mandal.
All the Panchayat Samitis
or Mandals together constitute the Zilla Parishad which consists of elected
members.
Lok Sabha members, Local
MLAs and officers are also members of the Zilla Parishad.
Its Chairperson is the
political head of the Parishad.
Urban areas local bodies.
Municipalities are set up
in towns.
Big cities are constituted
into Municipal Corporations.
Both are controlled by
elected bodies consisting of people’s representatives.
Municipal chairperson is
the political head of the Municipality.
The head of Municipal Corporation is an officer called the Mayor.
21. How is federal power sharing more effective today
than in the early years? Explain.
Answer: Federal power sharing is more effective because of the nature of
democratic politics in India. It has ensured that the spirit of federalism,
respect for diversity and desire for living together have become a shared ideal
in our country.
Federal power sharing has
helped to inculcate a habit of democratic participation. Federal power sharing
is the best way to realise one important principle of democracy, namely local
self-government. Constitutional status for local government has helped to
deepen democracy.
It has increased women’s
representation and voice in democracy.
Federal power sharing has
led to formation of linguistic states which has actually made the country more
united. It has also made administration easier.
It reduces the power of the
Central government and gives power to regional governments.
Which level of government in India has the power to
legislate on the ‘residuary’ subjects?
(a) Union government
(b) State government
(c) Local self-government
(d) Both a and b
Answers
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
B
d
d
A
b
c
c
b
a
b
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
C
c
d
C
a
B
d
c
d
a
1. Which state in India has its own
Constitution? (2012)
Answer: Jammu and Kashmir
2.What is Rural local self government
popularly known as? (2013)
Answer: Panchayati Raj
3.Which local body has a ‘Mayor’ as its
head? (2014)
Answer: Head of Municipal Corporation is a Mayor.
4. What other factors besides politics keep
the federations united? (2015)
Answer: Besides politics, other factors which keep the federations united
are culture, ideology and history. Culture of trust, cooperation, mutual
respect and restraint has also helped in the smooth functioning of nations.
5. What was the main objective of the
Constitutional Amendment made in 1992 in India? (2015)
Answer: The main objective of the Constitutional Amendment in 1992 was to
strengthen the three-tier system of governance, i.e., make the Panchayati Raj
Institution and the urban local bodies more powerful and effective.
6. What status has been given to the
‘Hindi’ language by the Constitution of India?
Answer: Hindi has been given the status of ‘Official language’ by the
Constitution of India.
7. Much of the official work in Indian States
is done in which language? (2014)
Answer: Much of the official work in Indian States
is done in the official language of the concerned state.
8. What is 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. This
vertical division of power among different levels of governments is referred to
as federalism.
9. Name the subject list from which both
the Union and the State governments can make laws?
Answer: Concurrent List
10. Explain the
vertical division of power by giving examples from India. (2013)
Answer: When power is shared among governments at
different levels, i.e., the Union or the Central Government, the State
Government and the Municipality and Panchayat at the lower level. This division
of power involving higher and lower levels of government is called the vertical
division of power.
Vertical division of power in India:
The Constitution declares India
as a Union of States. Although the word ‘Federation’ is not used, the Indian
Union is based on the principles of federation. The Constitution originally
provided for a two-tier system of government, the Union Government or the
Central Government representing Union of India and the State Governments.
A third-tier of federation
was added in the form of Panchayats and Municipalities. As in any federation,
these different tiers enjoy separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provides
for a three-fold distribution of legislative powers between the Union
Government and State Government. It contains three lists:
Union List (97 Subjects)
State List (66 Subjects)
Concurrent List (47
Subjects)
10. Why is decentralisation favoured in democracy?
Identify any two reasons.
Answer: Five advantages of decentralisation of
power:
When power is taken away
from Central and State Governments and given to local governments, it is called
decentralisation. The basic idea behind decentralisation is that there are a
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.
The need for
decentralisation was recognised in our Constitution. A major step towards
decentralisation was taken in 1992. The Constitution was amended to make the
third tier of democracy more powerful and effective.
12. India comes under which type of federation
and why? (2014)
Answer: 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. 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.
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 & Kashmir.
13. State two agreements through which
federations have been formed. Give an example of each.
Answer: (i) ‘Coming together’ federations—This agreement induces independent
states coming together on their own to form a bigger unit, so that by pooling
sovereignty and retaining identity they can increase their security.
Examples are: USA, Switzerland and Australia. All the constituent states have
equal power and are strong vis-a-vis the federal government.
(ii) ‘Holding together’
federations — In this agreement, a large country decides to divide its power
between the constituent States and the national government. The Central
Governments tend to be more powerful vis-a-vis the states. Often different
constituent units of the federation have unequal powers. Some units are granted
special powers, for example, India granted special powers to Jammu & Kashmir.
Other examples are Spain and Belgium.
14. Which five provisions of the
constitutional amendment of 1992 really strengthened the third tier of
democracy in India? Explain. (2015, 2013, 2012)
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation and strengthening of third tier
taken in 1992 were:
1.
Now it is
constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government
bodies.
2.
Seats are
reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other
backward classes (OBCs).
3.
Atleast
one-third of all positions and seats are reserved for women.
4.
An independent
institution called the State Election Commission was created to conduct
Panchayat and Municipal elections.
5.
The State
Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
15. Why has federalism succeeded in India?
Which are the policies adopted by India that have ensured it? Explain.
Answer: Reasons for success of federalism in India are:
1.
Clearly laid
out Constitutional Provisions providing a three-fold distribution of powers in
the three lists—Union List, State List and Concurrent List—between the Union
Government and State Governments.
2.
The nature of
democratic politics in our country which ensures that the spirit of federalism,
respect for diversity and desire for living together became a shared ideal.
3.
The creation of
linguistic states. Boundaries of several old states of India were changed in
order to create new states. This was done to ensure that people who spoke the
same language lived in the same state. Later some states were created to
recognise differences based on culture, ethnicity or geography.
For example: Nagaland, Uttrakhand, Jharkhand, Telangana, etc.
4.
Restricting
Centre-State relations. The constitutional arrangements for sharing power work
depending on how the ruling parties and leaders follow these arrangements. For
a long time, the same party ruled both at the Centre and in most of states. Post-1990
saw the rise of regional parties. Since no single party got a clear majority in
the Lok Sabha, the national parties had to enter into an alliance which led to
a new culture of power sharing and respect for autonomy of State Governments.
16. Explain any five features of federalism.
(2015)
Answer: Features of federalism:
1.
There are two
or more levels of government.
2.
Different
levels of government govern the same citizens, where each level has its own
jurisdiction in specific matters of legislation, taxation and administration.
3.
Existence and
authority of each level of government is constitutionally governed.
4.
The fundamental
provisions of the Constitution cannot be unilaterally changed. Such changes
require the consent of both the levels of government.
5.
Courts have the
power to interpret the Constitution and powers of the different levels of
government. The highest court acts as the umpire if any dispute arises between
different levels of governments.
6.
Sources of
revenue for each level of government are specified to ensure its financial
autonomy.
7.
Federal system
has dual objectives. To safeguard and promote unity of the country, and to
accommodate regional diversity.
17. Describe the three forms of power sharing
among different organs of government in India. (2014)
Answer: The Constitution declared India as a Union of States based on the
principles of federalism. The Constitution originally provided for a two-tier
system of government, the Union or the Central Government representing Union of
India and the State Governments. Later, a third tier was added in the form of
Panchayats and Municipalities.
As in any federation, these
different tiers enjoyed separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provided a
three-fold distribution of legislative powers:
1.
Union List
includes subjects of national importance, i.e., defence of the country, foreign
affairs, banking, communications and currency.
2.
State List
contains subjects of state and local importance, i.e., police, trade, commerce,
agriculture and irrigation.
3.
Concurrent List
includes subjects of common interest to both the Union Government as well as
the State Governments, i.e., education, forests, trade unions, marriages,
adoption and succession.
In case of dispute, law made by the Union Government shall prevail.
4.
Residuary—Subjects
which do not fall in any of the three lists, i.e., computer software, etc.
Union Government has the power to legislate such subjects.
As India is an example of
‘holding together’ federation, all states in the Indian Union do not have
identical powers. Some states enjoy special status such as Jammu & Kashmir.
There are some states too small to become independent like the Union
Territories of Chandigarh and Lakshadweep.
This sharing of power
between the Union Government and State Governments is basic to the structure of
the Constitution. Any change to it, has to be passed by both the Houses of the
Parliament with at least two-third majority.
The judiciary plays an
important role in the implementation of constitutional procedures. In case of
any dispute about division of powers, the High Courts and the Supreme Court
make a decision.
18. Describe in brief the language policy of
India?
Answer: Our Constitution did not give the status of national language to any
one language.
1.
The formation
of linguistic states united the country and made administration easier.
2.
The leaders of
our country adopted a very cautious attitude in spreading the use of Hindi.
Hindi was identified as official language.
3.
The banning of
use of English for official purposes in 1965 took a violent form in Tamil Nadu.
The Central Government responded by agreeing to continue the use of English
along with Hindi for official purposes.
4.
Promotion of
Hindi is an official policy of the Government of India but it does not impose
Hindi on states where people speak a different language.
5.
Besides Hindi,
there are 21 other languages recognised as scheduled languages by the
Constitution.
6.
This
flexibility shown by Indian leaders helped our country avoid the situation that
Sri Lanka finds itself in.
19. What were the major steps taken to make
decentralisation more effective?
Or
What amendments were made in the Constitution in order to make the third tier
of democracy (Local Government) more powerful and effective?
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation taken
in 1992 are:
1.
Now it is
constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government bodies.
2.
Seats are
reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other
backward classes (OBCs).
3.
Atleast
one-third of all positions are reserved for women.
4.
The State
Election Commission was created to conduct Panchayat and Municipal elections.
5.
The State
Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
20. Explain the structure of the new Panchayati Raj
institutions, both in rural and urban areas.
Answer: Rural Local Government is known by the name of Panachayati Raj/
Democratic decentralization.
Each village or group of
villages has a Gram Panchayat.
Panch, President or
Sarpanch are directly elected by all the adult population of the village and is
the decision-making body.
The Panchayat works under
the supervision of Gram Sabha, with all the voters as its members.
The local structure goes up
to the district level—a group of Gram Panchayats form a Panchayat Samiti or
Block or Mandal.
All the Panchayat Samitis
or Mandals together constitute the Zilla Parishad which consists of elected
members.
Lok Sabha members, Local
MLAs and officers are also members of the Zilla Parishad.
Its Chairperson is the
political head of the Parishad.
Urban areas local bodies.
Municipalities are set up
in towns.
Big cities are constituted
into Municipal Corporations.
Both are controlled by
elected bodies consisting of people’s representatives.
Municipal chairperson is
the political head of the Municipality.
The head of Municipal Corporation is an officer called the Mayor.
21. How is federal power sharing more effective today
than in the early years? Explain.
Answer: Federal power sharing is more effective because of the nature of
democratic politics in India. It has ensured that the spirit of federalism,
respect for diversity and desire for living together have become a shared ideal
in our country.
Federal power sharing has
helped to inculcate a habit of democratic participation. Federal power sharing
is the best way to realise one important principle of democracy, namely local
self-government. Constitutional status for local government has helped to
deepen democracy.
It has increased women’s
representation and voice in democracy.
Federal power sharing has
led to formation of linguistic states which has actually made the country more
united. It has also made administration easier.
It reduces the power of the
Central government and gives power to regional governments.
Answers
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
B
d
d
A
b
c
c
b
a
b
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
C
c
d
C
a
B
d
c
d
a
1. Which state in India has its own
Constitution? (2012)
Answer: Jammu and Kashmir
2.What is Rural local self government
popularly known as? (2013)
Answer: Panchayati Raj
3.Which local body has a ‘Mayor’ as its
head? (2014)
Answer: Head of Municipal Corporation is a Mayor.
4. What other factors besides politics keep
the federations united? (2015)
Answer: Besides politics, other factors which keep the federations united
are culture, ideology and history. Culture of trust, cooperation, mutual
respect and restraint has also helped in the smooth functioning of nations.
5. What was the main objective of the
Constitutional Amendment made in 1992 in India? (2015)
Answer: The main objective of the Constitutional Amendment in 1992 was to
strengthen the three-tier system of governance, i.e., make the Panchayati Raj
Institution and the urban local bodies more powerful and effective.
6. What status has been given to the
‘Hindi’ language by the Constitution of India?
Answer: Hindi has been given the status of ‘Official language’ by the
Constitution of India.
7. Much of the official work in Indian States
is done in which language? (2014)
Answer: Much of the official work in Indian States
is done in the official language of the concerned state.
8. What is 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. This
vertical division of power among different levels of governments is referred to
as federalism.
9. Name the subject list from which both
the Union and the State governments can make laws?
Answer: Concurrent List
10. Explain the
vertical division of power by giving examples from India. (2013)
Answer: When power is shared among governments at
different levels, i.e., the Union or the Central Government, the State
Government and the Municipality and Panchayat at the lower level. This division
of power involving higher and lower levels of government is called the vertical
division of power.
Vertical division of power in India:
The Constitution declares India
as a Union of States. Although the word ‘Federation’ is not used, the Indian
Union is based on the principles of federation. The Constitution originally
provided for a two-tier system of government, the Union Government or the
Central Government representing Union of India and the State Governments.
A third-tier of federation
was added in the form of Panchayats and Municipalities. As in any federation,
these different tiers enjoy separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provides
for a three-fold distribution of legislative powers between the Union
Government and State Government. It contains three lists:
Union List (97 Subjects)
State List (66 Subjects)
Concurrent List (47
Subjects)
10. Why is decentralisation favoured in democracy?
Identify any two reasons.
Answer: Five advantages of decentralisation of
power:
When power is taken away
from Central and State Governments and given to local governments, it is called
decentralisation. The basic idea behind decentralisation is that there are a
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.
The need for
decentralisation was recognised in our Constitution. A major step towards
decentralisation was taken in 1992. The Constitution was amended to make the
third tier of democracy more powerful and effective.
12. India comes under which type of federation
and why? (2014)
Answer: 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. 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.
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 & Kashmir.
13. State two agreements through which
federations have been formed. Give an example of each.
Answer: (i) ‘Coming together’ federations—This agreement induces independent
states coming together on their own to form a bigger unit, so that by pooling
sovereignty and retaining identity they can increase their security.
Examples are: USA, Switzerland and Australia. All the constituent states have
equal power and are strong vis-a-vis the federal government.
(ii) ‘Holding together’
federations — In this agreement, a large country decides to divide its power
between the constituent States and the national government. The Central
Governments tend to be more powerful vis-a-vis the states. Often different
constituent units of the federation have unequal powers. Some units are granted
special powers, for example, India granted special powers to Jammu & Kashmir.
Other examples are Spain and Belgium.
14. Which five provisions of the
constitutional amendment of 1992 really strengthened the third tier of
democracy in India? Explain. (2015, 2013, 2012)
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation and strengthening of third tier
taken in 1992 were:
1.
Now it is
constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government
bodies.
2.
Seats are
reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other
backward classes (OBCs).
3.
Atleast
one-third of all positions and seats are reserved for women.
4.
An independent
institution called the State Election Commission was created to conduct
Panchayat and Municipal elections.
5.
The State
Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
15. Why has federalism succeeded in India?
Which are the policies adopted by India that have ensured it? Explain.
Answer: Reasons for success of federalism in India are:
1.
Clearly laid
out Constitutional Provisions providing a three-fold distribution of powers in
the three lists—Union List, State List and Concurrent List—between the Union
Government and State Governments.
2.
The nature of
democratic politics in our country which ensures that the spirit of federalism,
respect for diversity and desire for living together became a shared ideal.
3.
The creation of
linguistic states. Boundaries of several old states of India were changed in
order to create new states. This was done to ensure that people who spoke the
same language lived in the same state. Later some states were created to
recognise differences based on culture, ethnicity or geography.
For example: Nagaland, Uttrakhand, Jharkhand, Telangana, etc.
4.
Restricting
Centre-State relations. The constitutional arrangements for sharing power work
depending on how the ruling parties and leaders follow these arrangements. For
a long time, the same party ruled both at the Centre and in most of states. Post-1990
saw the rise of regional parties. Since no single party got a clear majority in
the Lok Sabha, the national parties had to enter into an alliance which led to
a new culture of power sharing and respect for autonomy of State Governments.
16. Explain any five features of federalism.
(2015)
Answer: Features of federalism:
1.
There are two
or more levels of government.
2.
Different
levels of government govern the same citizens, where each level has its own
jurisdiction in specific matters of legislation, taxation and administration.
3.
Existence and
authority of each level of government is constitutionally governed.
4.
The fundamental
provisions of the Constitution cannot be unilaterally changed. Such changes
require the consent of both the levels of government.
5.
Courts have the
power to interpret the Constitution and powers of the different levels of
government. The highest court acts as the umpire if any dispute arises between
different levels of governments.
6.
Sources of
revenue for each level of government are specified to ensure its financial
autonomy.
7.
Federal system
has dual objectives. To safeguard and promote unity of the country, and to
accommodate regional diversity.
17. Describe the three forms of power sharing
among different organs of government in India. (2014)
Answer: The Constitution declared India as a Union of States based on the
principles of federalism. The Constitution originally provided for a two-tier
system of government, the Union or the Central Government representing Union of
India and the State Governments. Later, a third tier was added in the form of
Panchayats and Municipalities.
As in any federation, these
different tiers enjoyed separate jurisdiction. The Constitution provided a
three-fold distribution of legislative powers:
1.
Union List
includes subjects of national importance, i.e., defence of the country, foreign
affairs, banking, communications and currency.
2.
State List
contains subjects of state and local importance, i.e., police, trade, commerce,
agriculture and irrigation.
3.
Concurrent List
includes subjects of common interest to both the Union Government as well as
the State Governments, i.e., education, forests, trade unions, marriages,
adoption and succession.
In case of dispute, law made by the Union Government shall prevail.
4.
Residuary—Subjects
which do not fall in any of the three lists, i.e., computer software, etc.
Union Government has the power to legislate such subjects.
As India is an example of
‘holding together’ federation, all states in the Indian Union do not have
identical powers. Some states enjoy special status such as Jammu & Kashmir.
There are some states too small to become independent like the Union
Territories of Chandigarh and Lakshadweep.
This sharing of power
between the Union Government and State Governments is basic to the structure of
the Constitution. Any change to it, has to be passed by both the Houses of the
Parliament with at least two-third majority.
The judiciary plays an
important role in the implementation of constitutional procedures. In case of
any dispute about division of powers, the High Courts and the Supreme Court
make a decision.
18. Describe in brief the language policy of
India?
Answer: Our Constitution did not give the status of national language to any
one language.
1.
The formation
of linguistic states united the country and made administration easier.
2.
The leaders of
our country adopted a very cautious attitude in spreading the use of Hindi.
Hindi was identified as official language.
3.
The banning of
use of English for official purposes in 1965 took a violent form in Tamil Nadu.
The Central Government responded by agreeing to continue the use of English
along with Hindi for official purposes.
4.
Promotion of
Hindi is an official policy of the Government of India but it does not impose
Hindi on states where people speak a different language.
5.
Besides Hindi,
there are 21 other languages recognised as scheduled languages by the
Constitution.
6.
This
flexibility shown by Indian leaders helped our country avoid the situation that
Sri Lanka finds itself in.
19. What were the major steps taken to make
decentralisation more effective?
Or
What amendments were made in the Constitution in order to make the third tier
of democracy (Local Government) more powerful and effective?
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation taken
in 1992 are:
1.
Now it is
constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to Local Government bodies.
2.
Seats are
reserved in elected bodies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other
backward classes (OBCs).
3.
Atleast
one-third of all positions are reserved for women.
4.
The State
Election Commission was created to conduct Panchayat and Municipal elections.
5.
The State
Governments are required to share some powers and revenue with Local Government
bodies.
20. Explain the structure of the new Panchayati Raj
institutions, both in rural and urban areas.
Answer: Rural Local Government is known by the name of Panachayati Raj/
Democratic decentralization.
Each village or group of
villages has a Gram Panchayat.
Panch, President or
Sarpanch are directly elected by all the adult population of the village and is
the decision-making body.
The Panchayat works under
the supervision of Gram Sabha, with all the voters as its members.
The local structure goes up
to the district level—a group of Gram Panchayats form a Panchayat Samiti or
Block or Mandal.
All the Panchayat Samitis
or Mandals together constitute the Zilla Parishad which consists of elected
members.
Lok Sabha members, Local
MLAs and officers are also members of the Zilla Parishad.
Its Chairperson is the
political head of the Parishad.
Urban areas local bodies.
Municipalities are set up
in towns.
Big cities are constituted
into Municipal Corporations.
Both are controlled by
elected bodies consisting of people’s representatives.
Municipal chairperson is
the political head of the Municipality.
The head of Municipal Corporation is an officer called the Mayor.
21. How is federal power sharing more effective today
than in the early years? Explain.
Answer: Federal power sharing is more effective because of the nature of
democratic politics in India. It has ensured that the spirit of federalism,
respect for diversity and desire for living together have become a shared ideal
in our country.
Federal power sharing has
helped to inculcate a habit of democratic participation. Federal power sharing
is the best way to realise one important principle of democracy, namely local
self-government. Constitutional status for local government has helped to
deepen democracy.
It has increased women’s
representation and voice in democracy.
Federal power sharing has
led to formation of linguistic states which has actually made the country more
united. It has also made administration easier.
It reduces the power of the
Central government and gives power to regional governments.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
B
d
d
A
b
c
c
b
a
b
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
C
c
d
C
a
B
d
c
d
a
Answer: Jammu and Kashmir
Answer: Panchayati Raj
Answer: Head of Municipal Corporation is a Mayor.
Answer: Besides politics, other factors which keep the federations united are culture, ideology and history. Culture of trust, cooperation, mutual respect and restraint has also helped in the smooth functioning of nations.
Answer: The main objective of the Constitutional Amendment in 1992 was to strengthen the three-tier system of governance, i.e., make the Panchayati Raj Institution and the urban local bodies more powerful and effective.
Answer: Hindi has been given the status of ‘Official language’ by the Constitution of India.
Answer: Much of the official work in Indian States is done in the official language of the concerned state.
Answer: Federalism is a system of government in which the power is divided between a central authority and various constituent units of the country. This vertical division of power among different levels of governments is referred to as federalism.
Answer: Concurrent List
Answer: When power is shared among governments at different levels, i.e., the Union or the Central Government, the State Government and the Municipality and Panchayat at the lower level. This division of power involving higher and lower levels of government is called the vertical division of power.
Vertical division of power in India:
Answer: 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. 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.
Answer: (i) ‘Coming together’ federations—This agreement induces independent states coming together on their own to form a bigger unit, so that by pooling sovereignty and retaining identity they can increase their security.
Examples are: USA, Switzerland and Australia. All the constituent states have equal power and are strong vis-a-vis the federal government.
Other examples are Spain and Belgium.
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation and strengthening of third tier taken in 1992 were:
Answer: Reasons for success of federalism in India are:
For example: Nagaland, Uttrakhand, Jharkhand, Telangana, etc.
Answer: Features of federalism:
Answer: The Constitution declared India as a Union of States based on the principles of federalism. The Constitution originally provided for a two-tier system of government, the Union or the Central Government representing Union of India and the State Governments. Later, a third tier was added in the form of Panchayats and Municipalities.
In case of dispute, law made by the Union Government shall prevail.
Answer: Our Constitution did not give the status of national language to any one language.
Or
What amendments were made in the Constitution in order to make the third tier of democracy (Local Government) more powerful and effective?
Answer: Major steps towards decentralisation taken in 1992 are:
Answer: Rural Local Government is known by the name of Panachayati Raj/ Democratic decentralization.
The head of Municipal Corporation is an officer called the Mayor.
Answer: Federal power sharing is more effective because of the nature of democratic politics in India. It has ensured that the spirit of federalism, respect for diversity and desire for living together have become a shared ideal in our country.
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