Federalism — NCERT Solutions

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:

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)