NOTES CH2 (P_S) Class 10

FEDERALISM
Federalism is the vertical division of power sharing among different levels of government. It is
a system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and various
constituent units of the country.  
LEVELS IN A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Generally, a federation has two levels of government: -
 
1.Government for the entire country that is usually responsible for a few subjects of common
national interest.
2. The others are governments at the level of provinces or states that look after much of the day-
to-day administering of their state.
Both these levels enjoy their powers independent of each other and into their own spheres.
 
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FEDERAL AND UNITARY SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT
1.    1. In the unitary system of government there is only one level of government while in a federal
system of government, there is multiple levels of government.
 
2.     2. In the Unitary system of government, the sub-units are subordinate to the central
government but in a federal form of government, they are independent of each other.
3.     In a Unitary System government, the central government can pass on orders to the
provincial or the local government but in a federal system, the central government cannot order
the state government to do something.
 
 
FEATURES OF FEDERALISM
1.There exist two or more tiers under a federal system.
2.Each tier has its own jurisdiction and power of legislation, taxation etc.
3.The existence and authority of each tier of government is constitutionally guaranteed.
4.No unilateral changes are allowed. Consent is required to alter fundamental provisions.
5.Each level has its own financial autonomy.
 
 
DUAL OBJECTIVE OF FEDERAL SYSTEM
1.To safeguard and promote unity of the country
2.To accommodate regional diversity.
An ideal federal system has both aspects - mutual trust and     agreement to live together.
 
DIFFERENT TYPE OF FEDERATIONS
1.Coming Together Federations –
Independent States come together on their own to form a bigger unit, so that by pooling
sovereignty and retaining identity they can increase their security.
 For example - USA, Switzerland and Australia.
2.Holding Together Federations –
 A large country decides to divide its power between the constituent States and the national
government.
For example - India, Spain and Belgium.
Here, the central government tends to be more powerful vis-à-vis the States. Some special
powers are also granted.
 
WHAT MAKES INDIA A FEDERAL COUNTRY?
The Constitution of India clearly provided a threefold distribution of legislative powers between
the Union Government and the State Governments.
There are in there lists-
1. Union List: Under this are included subjects of national importance. Ex- Defence of the
country, Foreign Affairs, Banking, Communications and Currency. The Union Government alone
can make laws relating to the subjects mentioned in this list.
2.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.
3. Concurrent List: It includes subjects of common interest to both the Union and 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 it. If there is a
conflict, the Union Government’s decision prevails.
 
 
HOW IS FEDERALISM PRACTICE IN INDIA?
The real success of federalism in India can be attributed to the nature of democratic politics in
our country.
 Federalism practice in India in following ways-
1. Linguistic States- This was the first major test for democratic politics in India. From 1947 to
2019, many old States have disappeared, and new States have been created. This experience
has shown that the formation of linguistic States has made the country more united and its
administration easier.
2.Language Policy- This was the second test for Indian federation. Our Constitution did not give
the status of national language to any one language. Besides Hindi, there are 21 other languages
recognized as Scheduled Languages by the Constitution. There are also various safeguards
provided to protect different languages as India is very diverse on this ground.
3.Centre- State Relations- the Centre-State relations is one more way in which federalism has
been strengthened in practice. For a long time, State governments did not enjoy much autonomy
as federal units. But from 1990, a lot of regional parties emerged. This was also a period of rise
of Coalition Governments.
 
DECENTRALIZATION IN INDIA
 1.Decentralization means division of authority and responsibility at different levels of hierarchy. 
2.India being a vast country could not be administered well with just two tiers. Thus, resulted a
third tier of government, called local government. This is power sharing  or decentralization in
India.

3.When power is taken away from Central and State governments and given to local government,
it is called decentralization.
 
4.There are issues that are best settled at local level with people’s participation and hence the
need for this level of government arises.
5.Panchayats and Municipalities gained ground as local models of self- government. This type of
government added through an amendment to the Constitution but remained ineffective on
account of budget problem and less autonomy.
 
DECENTRALIZATION SINCE 1992
A major step was taken in 1992 in order to make decentralization more effective. Some changes
introduced were as follows-
1.Mandatory to hold regular elections to local bodies
2.Seats were reserved for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes as well as Other Backward
Classes.
3.One- third of all positions reserved for women.
4.State Election Commission constituted as an independent body to hold elections.
5.State Governments to share power and other resources with local bodies.
 
 
PANCHAYTI RAJ SYSTEM
 
GRAM PANCHAYAT
 1.Each village, or a group of villages in some States, has a gram panchayat.
2.This is a council consisting of several ward members, often called panch, and a president or
sarpanch.
3. 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 SABHA
1.The Panchayat works under the overall supervision of the Gram Sabha.
2. All the voters in the village are its members.
3.It meets at least twice or thrice in a year to approve the annual budget of the gram panchayat
and to review its performance.
PANCHYAT SAMITI OR MANDAL
1.When Gram Panchayats are grouped together, they form a Panchayat
Samiti or Block or Mandal.
2.The member of Panchayat Samiti representative are elected by all the Panchayat members in
that area.
ZILA PARISHAD
1.All the Panchayat Samitis or Mandals in a district together constitute the Zila (district) Parishad.
2.Members of the Lok Sabha, MLAs of the district, some other officials of other district-level
bodies are its members.

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