Extra 30 short answer questions from Chapter:2 Federalism (Class 10 CBSE Political Science).
Short Answer Questions
What is federalism?
Answer:
Federalism is a system of government where power is divided between a central authority and various levels of government (state and local). Each level has its own jurisdiction as defined by the constitution.
What are the two types of federations?
Answer:
Coming Together Federation
– Independent states voluntarily unite to form a larger union (e.g., USA, Switzerland, Australia).
Holding Together Federation
– A single country divides power among different regions to accommodate diversity (e.g., India, Belgium, Spain).
What are the key features of federalism?
Answer:
Two or more levels of government
Clear division of powers
Independent judiciary
Written constitution
Dual government system
Mention any two countries that follow a federal form of government.
Answer:
India
(Holding Together Federation)
United States of America (USA)
(Coming Together Federation)
How is power divided between different levels of government in India?
Answer:
Power is divided into three lists:
Union List
(e.g.,
defence
, foreign affairs)
State List
(e.g., police, agriculture)
Concurrent List
(e.g., education, forests)
What is the significance of the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution?
Answer:
It defines the distribution of powers between the Union and State Governments through the Union List, State List, and Concurrent List.
What is the importance of federalism in a country like India?
Answer:
Federalism helps in:
Accommodating linguistic and cultural diversity
Decentralizing power for better governance
Preventing conflicts between different regions
How does the judiciary act as an umpire in a federal system?
Answer:
The Supreme Court resolves disputes between different levels of government and ensures that laws are implemented according to the Constitution.
What is decentralization?
Answer:
Decentralization is the process of transferring power from the central and state governments to local governments (municipalities and panchayats) for better governance.
What was the impact of the 73rd and 74th Amendments on federalism in India?
Answer:
These amendments gave constitutional status to local governments by establishing Panchayati Raj (rural) and Municipalities (urban).
Why is India called a "Union of States" and not a federation?
Answer:
India is called a "Union of States" because states do not have the right to secede from the Union, unlike in some federal countries.
Give two examples of subjects in the Union List.
Answer:
Défense
Foreign affairs
Give two examples of subjects in the State List.
Answer:
Agriculture
Police
Give two examples of subjects in the Concurrent List.
Answer:
Education
Marriage laws
What happens if there is a conflict between Union and State laws on a subject in the Concurrent List?
Answer:
The law made by the
Union Government prevails
over the State law unless the State law has received the President’s assent.
What is the role of the Finance Commission in India's federal structure?
Answer:
It decides the financial distribution between the Centre and the States. It recommends how taxes and grants should be allocated.
What is a Union Territory? How is it different from a state?
Answer:
A
Union Territory (UT)
is directly governed by the
Central Government
, unlike states, which have their own governments. Examples: Delhi, Chandigarh, Lakshadweep.
What is asymmetric federalism?
Answer:
Asymmetric federalism refers to
special provisions for certain states
under the Constitution, such as Article 370 for Jammu & Kashmir (now removed) and special status for the
North-eastern
states.
How is the power-sharing arrangement in Belgium different from India?
Answer:
In Belgium, power is shared among linguistic communities (Dutch, French, German), while in India, it is based on a three-tier system (Union, State, Local).
What is linguistic federalism in India?
Answer:
India created states based on language to ensure better governance and cultural representation. Example: Andhra Pradesh was the first state formed on a linguistic basis in 1953.
What are the key provisions of the 73rd Amendment Act?
Answer:
Established
Panchayati Raj System
Three-tier structure (Gram Panchayat, Block Samiti,
Zilla
Parishad)
Direct elections for village councils
33% reservation for women
What are the key provisions of the 74th Amendment Act?
Answer:
Strengthened
urban local bodies (Municipalities)
Created
Metropolitan Planning Committees
Gave financial powers to local governments
What is meant by local self-government?
Answer:
Local self-government refers to
governance at the grassroots level
through Panchayats (villages) and Municipalities (towns and cities).
Why do states in India depend on the central government financially?
Answer:
States rely on the Centre for financial aid as most major taxes (e.g., Income Tax, GST) are collected by the Union Government and later distributed among states.
What is cooperative federalism?
Answer:
Cooperative federalism is when different levels of government
work together
to implement policies and solve national issues. Example: GST implementation.
What is competitive federalism?
Answer:
Competitive federalism is when states compete with each other for better governance, investments, and economic growth. Example: Ease of Doing Business ranking among Indian states.
What are the main challenges to federalism in India?
Answer:
Unequal financial distribution
Inter-state disputes (e.g., river water disputes)
Central government dominance over states
What is the difference between federalism and unitary government?
Answer:
Federalism
: Power is divided between central and state governments. (e.g., India, USA)
Unitary System
: Power is concentrated in the central government. (e.g., China, UK)
How does federalism promote democracy?
Answer:
Distributes power to prevent centralization
Encourages local participation in governance
Accommodates cultural and regional diversity
What role do political parties play in federalism?
Answer:
Political parties influence federalism through coalition governments, state politics, and representation in Parliament. They help in policy-making at both central and state levels.
