Federalism
Here are the answers to some of the important questions from Chapter 2: Federalism (Class 10):
1-Marker Questions
Q1: What is federalism?
Ans: Federalism is a system of government in which power is divided between a central authority
and various constituent units of the country.
Q2: Name any two examples of federal countries.
Ans: India and the United States of America (USA).
Q3: Which level of government in India can make laws on the subjects in the Concurrent List?
Ans: Both the Union and State governments can make laws on the subjects in the Concurrent List.
Q4: What is a unitary system of government?
Ans: In a unitary system, there is only one level of government or the sub-units are subordinate to
the central government.
Q5: Mention any one feature of a federal government.
Ans: Different levels of government govern the same citizens, but each level has its own jurisdiction
in specific matters of legislation, taxation, and administration.
Q6: How many tiers of government are there in a federal system?
Ans: Generally, there are two or three tiers of government: Union, State, and Local (Panchayati Raj).
Q7: Which Constitution amendment made Panchayati Raj a formal system in India?
Ans: The 73rd Constitutional Amendment.
Q8: What is decentralization?
Ans: Decentralization is the process of transferring decision-making powers from the central and
state governments to local levels of government.
2-Marker Questions
Q1: Distinguish between the unitary and federal systems of government.
Unitary System Federal System
Power is shared between the central and state
Power is concentrated in the central government.
governments.
Sub-units work as administrative units of the Sub-units (states) have their own autonomy
central government. and powers.
Q2: How is power shared between different levels of government in India?
Ans:
1. Union List: Subjects like defense, foreign affairs, and currency are handled by the central
government.
2. State List: Subjects like police, trade, and agriculture are handled by the state governments.
3. Concurrent List: Subjects like education, forests, and marriage are shared by both.
Q3: Why is it important to decentralize power in India?
Ans:
1. To reduce the burden of the central and state governments.
2. To ensure better decision-making at the local level for local issues.
3. To increase public participation in governance.
Q4: Explain the term “holding together” federation with an example.
Ans: In a "holding together" federation, the central government divides powers between constituent
states to maintain unity. For example, India is a holding-together federation where the central
government is more powerful than the states.
Q5: List any two subjects in the Union List and any two in the State List.
Ans:
• Union List: Defense, Foreign Affairs
• State List: Police, Agriculture
3-Marker Questions
Q1: Explain three features of federalism.
Ans:
1. Two or more levels of government: Federalism has at least two levels of government (Union
and State in India).
2. Division of powers: Powers are divided among different levels of government through a
written constitution.
3. Independent Judiciary: Courts resolve disputes between different levels of government.
Q2: How has federalism been practiced in India since independence?
Ans:
1. Linguistic states were created to ensure cultural and administrative convenience.
2. Power was shared among different tiers of government.
3. Decentralization introduced a third tier (Panchayati Raj).
Q3: Describe any three ways in which power-sharing is ensured in India’s federal structure.
Ans:
1. Legislative powers: The Constitution divides subjects into the Union, State, and Concurrent
Lists.
2. Revenue sharing: Financial resources are divided between the Union and State
governments.
3. Judiciary: The judiciary resolves disputes between different levels of government.
Q4: What are the advantages of decentralization?
Ans:
1. Reduces the workload of higher governments.
2. Ensures better decision-making for local needs.
3. Promotes people's participation in governance.
Q5: Why is India called a federal country? Support your answer with three examples.
Ans:
1. Powers are divided between the Union and State governments (e.g., Union and State Lists).
2. Each state has its own government that functions independently in its jurisdiction.
3. Judiciary resolves disputes between governments to maintain balance.
5-Marker Questions
Q1: Explain the key features of Indian federalism.
Ans:
1. Division of Powers: The Constitution divides powers between the Union and State
governments.
2. Three-tier system: India has a three-tier system with Union, State, and Local levels.
3. Independent Judiciary: The Supreme Court settles disputes between governments.
4. Union government is strong: In emergencies, the central government can override state
powers.
5. Cultural diversity: Linguistic states and special provisions for regions promote unity in
diversity.
Q2: Discuss the differences between “coming together” federations and “holding together”
federations with examples.
Coming Together Federation Holding Together Federation
Independent states come together to Power is divided between the central and state
form a bigger unit. governments by the Constitution.
All units have equal power. Central government is more powerful.
Examples: USA, Switzerland Examples: India, Spain
Let me know if you need more explanations or examples!
