Q 1. How is a federal government organized?
Power is divided between a central authority and various constituent units of the country.
Q 2. ”Indian Constitution has a unitary bias.” Support the statement with one example.
The power-sharing arrangement between the union and the state given in the Constitution of India clearly distributes power between the two. In this sense, it is federal. But, the system becomes unitary when an emergency situation arises as the residuary powers rest with the union.
Q 3. How is the federal government different from the unitary government? Give one difference.
Under the unitary system, the central government can pass on orders to the provincial or the local governments but in a federal system, the central government cannot order the state governments to do something.
Q 4. What are other factors besides politics that keep the federations united?
Respect for diversity and desire for living together.
Q 5. Define federalism.
Federalism is a system of government in which the power is divided between a central authority and various constituent units of the country.
Q 6. In which list of the Indian Constitution does a railway come? Why?
Union List because it is a subject of national importance and requires a uniform policy throughout the country.
Q 7. How do the central and state governments enjoy their power in the federal system?
The jurisdictions of the central and state governments are specified in the Constitution.
Q 8. How much majority in the parliament is required to amend any part of the Indian Constitution?
Any change to the constitution has to be first passed by both the Houses of Parliament with at least a two-thirds majority.
Q 9. In which list of the Indian Constitution does education come? Why?
Concurrent List. Both the Union as well as the State Governments can make laws on the subject.
Q 10. Which level of government of India manages the subject of union territories?
The Central Government.
Q 11. Give two examples of the coming together federation.
USA, Switzerland, and Australia.
Q 12. What is meant by residuary subjects?
The subjects which are not mentioned in Union, State, and Concurrent Lists are called residuary subjects. The Union Government has the power to legislate on them.
Q 13. Which institution decides in case of any dispute about the division of powers between center and state?
The Judiciary
Q 14. In which list of the Indian Constitution do cyber laws come?
Residuary List
Q 15. Which level of government in India can make laws on the subjects included in the Concurrent List?
Concurrent List includes subjects of common interest to both the Union Government as well as the State Governments. It is the Central as well as State Government that can legislate on the subjects mentioned in the Concurrent List.
Q 16. When the States Reorganisation Commission was formed?
1st Nov 1956.
Q 17. Who is the guardian of the Constitution of India?
Supreme Court
Q 18. Which era is the beginning of the coalition governments at the Centre in India?
The 1990s was the beginning of the era of the coalition governments at the Centre in India.
Q 19. What other factors besides politics keep the federations united?
To safeguard and promote the unity of the country, while at the same time accommodating regional diversity.
Q 20. What status has been given to Hindi by the Constitution of India?
Official language
Q 21. How many languages are recognized as Scheduled Languages by the Indian Constitution?
Besides Hindi, there are 21 other languages recognized as Scheduled Languages by the Indian Constitution.
Q 22. Much of the official work in the Indian States is done in which language?
Much of the official work in the Indian States is done in the official language of the concerned States.
Q 23. Why was States Reorganization Commission formed?
States Reorganization Commission was formed because when the demand for the formation of states on the basis of language was raised, some national leaders feared that it would lead to the disintegration of the country.
Q 24. Name two states which were created to recognize differences based on culture, ethnicity, or geography.
Nagaland, Uttarakhand.
Q 25. What is a coalition government?
A coalition government refers to a government formed by the coming together of at least two political parties. Usually, partners in a coalition form a political alliance and adopt a common program.
Q 26. In which year the boundaries of several old states of India were changed to create new states?
In 1947
Q 27. Who is called the head of the state at the state level?
The Governor.
Q 28. Name the representative body formed by a few Gram Panchayats.
A Panchayat Samiti or Block Samiti or Mandal.
Q 29. Which local body has a ‘Mayor’ as its head?
Municipal Corporation.
Q 30. What is another popular name for Rural local government in India?
Panchayati Raj Institutions.
Q 31. What proportion of seats are reserved for women in the Indian local self-government?
One-third of seats are reserved for women in the Indian local self-government.
Q 32. Name the independent institution that has been created in each State to conduct panchayat and municipal elections in India.
State Election Commission
Q 33. Which local body looks after the basic civic amenities in big cities?
Municipal Corporations
Q 34. What is the official post for the chairperson of a Municipal Corporation?
The mayor
Q 35. What was the main objective of the Constitutional Amendment made in 1992 in India?
The main objective of the Constitutional Amendment made in 1992 in India was to make the third-tier of democracy more powerful and effective.
Q 36. Which local body has a ‘Mayor’ as its head?
Municipal Corporation.
Q 37. What is federalism? Explain any three features of federalism.
The main features of federalism are as under:
(i)There are two or more levels of government.
(ii) Different tiers of government govern some citizens, but each tier has its own jurisdiction in specific matters of legislation, taxation, and administration.
(iii) The jurisdictions of the respective levels or tiers of government are specified constitutions.
(iv) Sources of revenue for each level of government are clearly specified to ensure financial autonomy.
Q 38. ”Holding together federations” do not give equal power to its constituent units. Explain the statement with the help of examples in context to India.
(1) All states in the Indian Union do not have identical powers.
(2) For example, Jammu and Kashmir enjoy special status and has their own Constitution.
(3) Many provisions of the Indian Constitution do not apply here.
(4) Indians who are not permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir cannot buy land or house here.
(5)Smaller units called Union Territories do not have the powers of a state. The Central Government has special powers in running these areas.
Q 39. India comes under which type of federation and why?
(1) India comes under ‘holding together’ federations.
(i) It decides to divide its power between the constituent States and the national government.
(ii) The Central Government tends to be more powerful vis-a-vis the States.
(iii) Very often different constituent units of the federation have unequal powers.
(iv) Some units are granted special powers.
Q 40. States in India often ask for more autonomy or more power. Should they be given more power or not? Support your answer with two arguments.
(1) Indian Constitution divides the power of governance between the Union and the State which is more or less based on the federal structure of the government. This division of power is more Inclined towards union government seeing the tradition of the Indian political history.
(2) The demand for more autonomy is one of the most controversial issues of Indian federalism, although federalism is an important feature of the constitutional structure of Indian democracy.
States should be given more power or more autonomy for the following reasons :
(i) The center is strong in the Indian political system. The center has been given a monopoly on almost all the subjects except for a few, on which states have reserved say due to some local importance.
(ii) The center has, yet, the power to give directions to the states in certain matters. The states have to depend upon the center for financial assistance.
(iii) Misuse of central government’s control over state and misuse and ineffectiveness of the office of Governor.
(iv) Unbalanced growth of different states is due to some policy defects. Provisions can be introduced to the effective planning of states and centers through a non-political, independent buddy.