Chapter 2 Federalism Class 10th Notes Civics
Chapter 2 Federalism Class 10th Notes Civics Social Science
What is Federalism?
Federalism is a form of government in which the power is divided between two or more governments.
Both the central and state governments are independent within their boundaries.
The goal is to attain a strong central government balanced with state freedom.
Features of Federalism
1. Multiple Levels of Government – Federalism has two or more levels of government.
2. Division of Powers – Independent jurisdiction of legislation, taxation, and administration by each level.
3. Constitutional Guarantees – The powers of every level of government are guaranteed by the constitution.
4. Amendment Procedure – Federal structural changes have to be ratified by both central and state governments.
5. Independent Judiciary – Disputes among levels of government are settled by courts.
6. Allocation of revenue – Independent revenues at each level to ensure financial viability.
7. Balancing Diversity & Unity – Federalism is the vehicle of maintaining national unity in harmony with regional diversity.
Unitary and Federal System
| Unitary System | Federal System |
|---|---|
| Only one level of government (Central). | Multiple levels of government (Central, State, Local). |
| Central government has all powers. | Powers are divided between Central and State governments. |
| State governments exist as subordinates. | State governments have independent authority. |
| Examples: UK, China. | Examples: India, USA, Canada. |
Types of Federalism
| Type | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Coming Together Federations | Voluntary coming together of independent sovereign states into a federation. Equal force of all the units. |
USA, Switzerland, Australia |
| Holding Together Federations | Huge country disperses power between central and local governments. More power to the central government. |
India, Spain, Belgium |
Federalism in India
A. Three Branches of the Government
1. Central Government (Union Government)
2. State Governments
3. Local Governments (Panchayats & Municipalities)
B. Separation of Powers in India
Powers are divided among different branches of the government by the Indian Constitution through three lists:
| List | Controlled by | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Union List | Central Government | Defense, Foreign Affairs, Currency |
| State List | State Governments | Police, Commerce, Irrigation |
| Concurrent List | Both Central & State | Education, Forests, Trade Unions |
In case of disagreement in the Concurrent List, the Central Government's decision prevails.
Some states (like Jammu & Kashmir earlier, and some parts of the Northeast today) enjoy special status due to their history and society.
Union Territories (like Delhi, Chandigarh) are governed directly by the Central Government.
In What Way is Federalism Enforced in India?
A. Linguistic States
States were reorganized on linguistic lines after 1947.
Example: Andhra Pradesh was the initial linguistically created state.
It helped in more effective governance and national integration.
B. Language Policy
Hindi is the official language but no national language was rendered compulsory.
22 other languages are listed as Scheduled Languages.
English is also persisted for official purposes.
C. Center-State Relations
Center-State Government relations were reorganized to promote federalism.
Central Government earlier had more control over states.
Coalition governments now reinforced the role of regional parties in decision-making.
Decentralization in India
What is Decentralization?
Delegation of power from Central & State governments to Local Governments.
Established in 1992 via a constitutional amendment.
The local bodies are more capable of addressing issues of local concern.
A. Panchayati Raj System (Rural Government)
1. Gram Panchayat (Village Level) - Local government at the village level led by a Sarpanch.
2. Panchayat Samiti (Block Level) - A collection of Gram Panchayats is governed by a Panchayat Samiti.
3. Zilla Parishad (District Level) - All the Panchayat Samitis of a district together form a Zilla Parishad.
B. Municipalities (Urban Government)
Small towns possess Municipalities.
Large cities possess Municipal Corporations, with a Mayor.
C. Features of Local Government
Regular elections for Panchayats & Municipalities.
Seats reserved for SC, ST, OBC, and one-third seats for women.
Elections conducted by State Election Commission.
Powers and finances devolved to local bodies.