Class 10 Civics Chapter 2 Federalism
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NCERT Notes For Class 10 Civics Chapter 2 Federalism
Class 10 Civics Chapter 2 Federalism
What is Federalism?
Federalism is a system of government in which the power is divided between a central authority and various constituent units of the country.
Features of Federalism
There are two or more levels of government. Both these levels of governments enjoy their power independent of the other.
Different tiers of government govern the same citizens, but each government have power independent of the other.
- One is the government for the entire country that is usually responsible for a few subjects of common national interest.
- Governments at the level of provinces or states that look after much of the day-to-day administering of their state.
- The fundamental provisions of the constitution cannot be changed by one level of government.
- The judiciary prevents conflict between centre and regional government in the exercise of their powers.
- Sources of revenue for each level of government are clearly specified to ensure its financial autonomy.
Difference Between Unitary System and Federal System
Unitary System | Federal System |
There is only one level of government or the sub-units are subordinate to the Central Government. | There are two or more levels (or tiers) of government. |
The Central Government can pass on orders to the provincial or local government. | The Central Government cannot order the state government to do something. |
The central government is supreme, and the administrative divisions exercise only powers that the central government has delegated to them. Their powers may be broadened and narrowed by the central government | State Government has powers of its own for which it is not answerable to the central government. |
Key Features of Federalism
Some of the key features of federalism system are:
- There are two or more levels (or tiers) of government.
- Different tiers of government govern the same citizens, but each tier has its own JURISDICTION in specific matters of legislation, taxation and administration.
- The existence and authority of each tier of government is constitutionally guaranteed.
- The fundamental provisions of the constitution cannot be unilaterally changed by one level of government. Such changes require the consent of both the levels of government.
- Courts have the power to interpret the constitution and the powers of different levels of government.
- Sources of revenue for each level of government are clearly specified to ensure its financial autonomy.
- The federal system has dual objectives:
- To safeguard and promote the unity of the country
- Accommodate regional diversity.
Balance of power between the central and the state
Different Routes Through Which Federations Can be Formed
Two aspects are crucial for the institutions and practice of federalism:
- mutual trust between the government of different levels and agreement to live together.
There are two kinds of routes through which federations have been formed.
- The first route involves independent States coming together on their own to form a bigger unit.
- So that by pooling sovereighty and retaining identity they can increase their security.
- This kind of “coming together” federations is formed in the USA, Switzerland and Australia.
- In this forst category of federations, all the constituent states usually have equal power and are strong vis-à-vis the federal government.
- The second route is that a large country decides to divide its power between the constituent States and the national government.
- India, Spain and Belgium are example of this kind of ‘holding together’ federations.
- In this second category, the central government tends to be more powerful vis-a-vis the states.
Holding together’ Federations: A large country decides to divide its power between the constituent States and the national government.
What makes India a federal country?
- The Constitution originally provided for a two-tier system of government – Central Government, representing the Union of India and the State governments.
- Later, the third tier of federalism was added in the form of Panchayats and Municipalities.
- The Indian Constitution provided a three-fold distribution of legislative powers between the Union Government and the State Governments.
- The Constitution divides powers between the Union Government and the State Governments within three lists.
The 3 lists are mentioned below:
- Union List
- It includes subjects of national importance such as the defence of the country, foreign affairs, banking, communications and currency.
- The Union Government alone can make laws relating to the subjects mentioned in Union list.
- State List
- It contains subjects of State and local importance such as police, trade, commerce, agriculture and irrigation.
- The State Governments alone can make laws relating to the subjects mentioned in this list.
- Concurrent List
- It includes subjects of common interest to both the Union Government as well as the State Governments.
- The list includes education, forest, trade unions, marriage, adoption and succession.
- Both the Union as well as the State Governments can make laws on the subjects mentioned in this list.
- If their laws conflict with each other, the law made by the Union Government will be considered.
- Residuary subjects: Those subjects which are not mentioned in any of the three lists or any other matter that arise with passage of time.
Features of Indian Federation
- All states of India do not have equal powers.
- The Parliament cannot on its own change power sharing.
- These changes need the approval of both the Houses of Parliament with at least two-thirds majority.
- The judiciary oversee the implementation of constitutional provisions and procedures.
How is federalism practised?
The real success of federalism in India is attributed to its nature of democratic politics.
Have a look at some of the major ways in which federalism is practised in India.
Linguistic states
- The creation of linguistic States was the first and a major test for democratic politics in India
- In 1947, the boundaries of several old States of India were changed in order to create new States.
- From 1947 to 2017, many old States have vanished and many new States have been created.
- Areas, boundaries and names of the States have been changed.
- Some States have been formed of the people who speak the same language.
- These states are known as Linguistic States.
Language policy
- A second test for Indian federation is the language policy.
- Our Constitution has not made any language the national language of India.
- Hindi was identified as the official language.
- Besides Hindi, there are 21 other languages recognised as Scheduled Languages by the Constitution.
- States too have their own official languages.
- English along with Hindi used for official purposes.
Centre-State relations
- The sharing of powers between Centre and States by the constitution has also strengthened federalism in India.
- If no single party gets a clear majority in the Lok sabha.
- The major national parties can alliance with many parties including several regional parties to form a government at the Centre.
- This led to a new culture of power sharing and respect for the autonomy of State Governments.
After 1990, many regional political parties rise in many States of the country which started an era of ‘coalition governments’ at the Centre which make it difficult for the Central Government to dismiss state governments in non-democratic manner.
Decentralisation in India
When power is taken away from Central and State governments and given to local government, it is called decentralisation.
The basic idea behind decentralisation is that there are a large number of problems and issues which are best settled at the local level.
Local people can also directly participate in the decision making.
• Before 1992, the local bodies were directly under the state governments.
→ Regular elections were not held.
→ The local bodies did not have any resources or powers of their own.
A major step towards decentralisation was taken in 1992, the Constitution was amended to make the third-tier of democracy more powerful and effective.
The steps taken are:
- It is constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to local government bodies.
- Seats are reserved in the elected bodies and the executive heads of these institutions for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes.
- At least one-third of all positions are reserved for women.
- An independent institution called the State Election Commission has been created in each State.
- The State governments are required to share some powers and revenue with local government bodies. The nature of sharing varies from State to State.
Rural Local Government(panchayati raj system)
- Rural local government is popularly known as Panchayati Raj.
- Each village, or a group of villages in some States, has a gram panchayat.
- This is a council consisting of several ward members, often called panch, and a president or sarpanch.
- They are directly elected by all the adult population living in a village or ward.
- Gram Panchayat is the decision-making body for the entire village.
Gram panchayat(gram sabha)
- The Panchayat works under the overall supervision of the Gram Sabha.
- All the voters in the village are its members.
- It has to meet at least twice or thrice in a year to approve the annual budget of the gram panchayat and to review the performance of the Gram Panchayat.
- It is the decision-making body for the entire village.
Panchayat Samiti:
- When Gram Panchayat are grouped together, they form a Panchayat Samiti or Block or Mandal.
- The member of Panchayat Samiti representative are elected by all the Panchayat members in that area.
- A few gram panchayats are grouped together to form what is usually called a panchayat samiti or block or mandal.
Zilla(district) Parishad
- All the Panchayat Samitis or Mandals in a district together constitute the Zilla (district) Parishad.
- Members of the Lok Sabha, MLAs of the district, some other officials of other district-level bodies are the members of Zilla Parishad.
- All the panchayat samitis or mandals in a district together form the zilla parishad.
Urban Local Government
- As Gram Panchayat is for Rural areas, similarly we have Municipalities for urban areas.
- Big cities are constituted into Municipal Corporations.
- Both Municipalities and Municipal Corporations are controlled by elected bodies consisting of people’s representatives.
- The Municipal Chairperson is the political head of the Municipality.
- In a Municipal Corporation such an officer is called the Mayor.
- This new system of local government is the largest experiment in democracy conducted anywhere in the world.
- Constitutional status for local government has helped to deepen democracy in our country.
- It has also increased women’s representation and voice in our democracy.
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