Federalism

Note: This is a map-based activity. Students should obtain a blank outline political map of India and mark the following states:

- Manipur — Located in the North-East India, bordering Myanmar. It is one of the Seven Sister States.
- Sikkim — Located in the North-East India, nestled between Nepal (west), China/Tibet (north), Bhutan (east), and West Bengal (south).
- Chhattisgarh — Located in Central India, carved out of Madhya Pradesh in 2000. It is surrounded by states like Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, and others.
- Goa — Located on the western coast of India (Konkan coast), bordered by Maharashtra (north) and Karnataka (east).

Mark each state clearly and label it on the map.

Note: This is a map-based activity. Students should obtain a blank outline political map of the world and shade any three of the following federal countries:

1. United States of America (USA) — Located in North America.
2. Australia — Located in the Southern Hemisphere (Oceania).
3. Brazil — Located in South America.
4. Germany — Located in Central Europe.
5. Belgium — Located in Western Europe.
6. Canada — Located in North America.

Shade any three of these countries and label them clearly on the map.

Given: Comparison of federalism in India and Belgium.

Concept: Federalism involves distribution of power between the central government and regional/state governments.

Feature SIMILAR to Belgium:
- Both India and Belgium have power-sharing arrangements between the central government and the regional/state governments. In both countries, the Constitution clearly demarcates the powers of the central and regional governments, and neither level can unilaterally override the other.
- Additionally, both countries recognise multiple official languages at the national or regional level, accommodating linguistic diversity.

Feature DIFFERENT from Belgium:
- In Belgium, there is a community government (a third tier based on linguistic communities — Dutch, French, and German-speaking) that has power over cultural, educational, and language-related matters. India does not have such a community government based on linguistic communities at the constitutional level.
- Belgium follows a more symmetric federal structure where both regions and communities have significant autonomous powers. India, on the other hand, has an asymmetric federal structure — the Centre is stronger than the States, and some states (like Jammu & Kashmir, before 2019) had special provisions giving them more powers than others.

Answer Summary:
- Similar: Both have constitutional distribution of powers between central and state/regional governments.
- Different: Belgium has a community government based on linguistic communities; India does not have such a tier.

Given: Comparison between federal and unitary forms of government.

Main Difference:

| Basis | Federal Government | Unitary Government |
|---|---|---|
| Power Distribution | Power is divided between the central government and the regional/state governments by the Constitution. | All power is concentrated in the central/national government. |
| Autonomy of States | States/provinces have their own sphere of authority and cannot be overridden by the centre in those areas. | Regional units derive their powers from the central government and can be overridden or abolished. |
| Constitutional Guarantee | Division of powers is constitutionally guaranteed. | No such constitutional guarantee; centre is supreme. |

Example of Federal Government:
India — The Constitution of India divides powers into the Union List, State List, and Concurrent List. The Central Government legislates on Union List subjects (e.g., Defence, Foreign Affairs), while State Governments legislate on State List subjects (e.g., Police, Agriculture). Neither can encroach upon the other's exclusive domain.

Example of Unitary Government:
Sri Lanka — The central government holds supreme power. Although the country is divided into provinces, the provinces do not have constitutionally guaranteed independent powers. The central government can override provincial decisions.

Conclusion: The key difference is that in a federal government, the division of powers between different levels is constitutionally guaranteed and neither level is subordinate to the other, whereas in a unitary government, the central authority is supreme and regional units function under its authority.

Given: The Constitutional Amendment of 1992 (73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments) brought significant changes to local government in India.

Two differences between local government BEFORE and AFTER the 1992 Amendment:

| Aspect | Before 1992 | After 1992 |
|---|---|---|
| Constitutional Status | Local governments (Panchayats and Municipalities) did not have constitutional status. They were created and governed by state laws and could be dissolved by state governments easily. | The 73rd and 74th Amendments gave constitutional status to local self-governments. Their existence is now constitutionally guaranteed. |
| Regular Elections | Elections to local bodies were not held regularly. State governments could postpone or avoid elections indefinitely. | It became constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections every five years. A State Election Commission was made responsible for conducting these elections. |
| Reservation | There was no constitutional provision for reservation of seats for women and marginalised communities (SC/ST/OBC) in local bodies. | At least one-third of seats are reserved for women. Reservations for SC, ST, and OBCs are also provided. |

*(Any two of the above differences are sufficient for the answer.)*

Conclusion: The 1992 amendment made local self-government more democratic, regular, and inclusive by giving it constitutional recognition and ensuring representation for all sections of society.

Concept: There are two types of federations — 'coming together' federations (where independent states voluntarily unite) and 'holding together' federations (where a large country divides power among constituent units).

Filled blanks:

Since the United States is a coming together type of federation, all the constituent States have equal powers and States are powerful/co-equal vis-à-vis the federal government. But India is a holding together type of federation and some States have more power than others. In India, the Central (Union) government has more powers.

Explanation:
- The USA is a 'coming together' federation — originally independent states came together to form a union, so all states have equal status and significant autonomy.
- India is a 'holding together' federation — a large country decided to divide power to keep the nation united. The Centre is stronger, and there is some asymmetry among states (e.g., special provisions for some states).

Note: Students may support any one of the three positions. Below, arguments and examples are provided for all three so students can choose.

---

Position 1 — Sangeeta: The policy of accommodation has strengthened national unity.

Argument: By recognising and respecting linguistic diversity, the Indian government prevented large-scale conflicts and separatist movements. When people feel that their language and culture are respected, they feel included in the national mainstream, which strengthens unity.

Example: The States Reorganisation Act of 1956 created states on linguistic lines (e.g., Andhra Pradesh for Telugu speakers). This satisfied the demand of Telugu-speaking people and prevented a major conflict. Similarly, the recognition of 22 languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution has given people a sense of belonging to the Indian nation.

---

Position 2 — Arman: Language-based States have divided us by making everyone conscious of their language.

Argument: When states are formed on the basis of language, it creates a strong regional identity that sometimes overshadows the national identity. People begin to identify more with their linguistic group than with the nation, leading to regionalism and inter-state disputes.

Example: The Cauvery water dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu has linguistic and regional overtones. Similarly, demands for separate states (like the demand for a separate Telangana state from Andhra Pradesh) were partly fuelled by linguistic and regional identity consciousness.

---

Position 3 — Harish: This policy has only helped to consolidate the dominance of English over all other languages.

Argument: Despite the official recognition of Hindi and other regional languages, English continues to dominate higher education, the judiciary, the civil services, and corporate life. Those who are educated in English have a significant advantage, which marginalises speakers of other languages.

Example: Most competitive examinations (like UPSC), higher courts, and multinational companies use English as the primary medium. A student educated in a regional medium school is often at a disadvantage compared to an English-medium student, showing that English dominance has not reduced despite the language policy.

---

(Recommended for board exam: Support Sangeeta's position as it aligns most closely with the textbook's perspective.)

Correct Answer: (d) Governmental power is divided between different levels of government.

Justification: The defining characteristic of federalism is the constitutional division of power between different levels of government (e.g., central/national government and state/provincial governments). This division is guaranteed by the Constitution and neither level is subordinate to the other in its own sphere.

- Option (a) is incorrect because in a federation, powers are not merely 'given' by the national government — they are constitutionally guaranteed to the states.
- Option (b) describes the separation of powers (checks and balances), not federalism.
- Option (c) describes democracy, not federalism.

Concept: The Indian Constitution divides legislative subjects into three lists:
- Union List: Subjects of national importance on which only the Central Government can legislate.
- State List: Subjects of local/regional importance on which only State Governments can legislate.
- Concurrent List: Subjects on which both Central and State Governments can legislate; in case of conflict, Central law prevails.

Answer:

| List | Subjects |
|---|---|
| Union List | A. Defence, E. Banking, G. Communications |
| State List | B. Police, C. Agriculture, H. Trade |
| Concurrent List | D. Education, F. Forests, I. Marriages |

Explanation:
- Defence, Banking, Communications — These are matters of national importance and are handled exclusively by the Central Government (Union List).
- Police, Agriculture, Trade — These are local/regional matters handled by State Governments (State List).
- Education, Forests, Marriages — These are subjects where both Central and State Governments can make laws (Concurrent List). The 42nd Constitutional Amendment (1976) moved Education and Forests from the State List to the Concurrent List.

Correct Answer: (d) Local governments — Residuary powers

Justification:
- Option (a) is correctly matched: State Governments legislate on subjects in the State List.
- Option (b) is correctly matched: The Central Government legislates on subjects in the Union List.
- Option (c) is correctly matched: Both Central and State Governments can legislate on subjects in the Concurrent List.
- Option (d) is NOT correctly matched: Residuary powers (power to legislate on subjects not mentioned in any of the three lists) belong to the Central Government, not to Local Governments. Local governments derive their powers from the State Governments through state legislation and the 73rd/74th Constitutional Amendments.

Therefore, the pair that is NOT correctly matched is (d).

Concept: Each level of government in India has a specific head:
- Union of India is headed by the Prime Minister (head of the Council of Ministers at the Centre).
- State is headed by the Governor (constitutional head of the state).
- Municipal Corporation is headed by the Mayor.
- Gram Panchayat is headed by the Sarpanch (also called Pradhan or Mukhiya in some states).

Matching:
- 1 — A (Union of India — Prime Minister)
- 2 — C (State — Governor)
- 3 — D (Municipal Corporation — Mayor)
- 4 — B (Gram Panchayat — Sarpanch)

Correct Answer: (c) 1-A, 2-C, 3-D, 4-B

Correct Answer: (c) A and B only

Justification:

- Statement A is CORRECT: A defining feature of federalism is that the powers of the federal (central) and provincial (state) governments are clearly demarcated — usually in the Constitution itself.

- Statement B is CORRECT: India is rightly called a federation because the Constitution clearly specifies the powers of the Union and State Governments through the Union List, State List, and Concurrent List, and each has exclusive jurisdiction over its respective subjects.

- Statement C is INCORRECT: Sri Lanka is not a federation merely because it is divided into provinces. A federation requires a constitutional guarantee of power-sharing between levels of government. In Sri Lanka, the central government is supreme and the provinces do not have constitutionally guaranteed independent powers. Sri Lanka is essentially a unitary state.

- Statement D is INCORRECT: Devolution of some powers to local government bodies does not mean India is no longer a federation. In fact, the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments (1992) strengthened democracy by creating a third tier of government. This is an extension of the federal spirit, not a negation of it. India continues to be a federation.

Therefore, only statements A and B are correct → Answer: (c)